You are the light of the world. A city on the hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)
I collect bruises. Not intentionally, of course, but they seem to especially crop up in the wee hours of the morning while I’m searching for the bathroom. The end of the bed, which I know is four steps in front of me in the light, magically turns into 4 1/2 steps while shrouded in darkness. By turning the corner too soon, I’m left with bruises that display my deftness.
Isn’t this how the world is?
We live in a bruised world that craves light, and as they grope in darkness, they await for genuine Christians to enter into their lives to be Christ to them. Our peace, love and joy are on display as a beckoning light that draws them, as the goal of the verse says, to ultimately give praise to our Father in heaven.
If we proclaim our Christianity yet conform to the world’s standards, our light wanes under the same mask of darkness the world wears. Just a few examples I unfortunately see often in Christian circles are: gossiping⎯smearing our co-workers, lust⎯allowing our eyes and our bodies to give way to sin, greed⎯addicted to acquiring more stuff. The world looks at us, wanting something more, hoping for any glimmer that would pull them out of the weight of this world, but leaves in frustration when they see no difference.
So, the question is simple. How are you being Jesus’ light in this hurting world?
In dependence on God, we should always strive to display His glory in the way we live our lives in the privacy of our homes and in front of others. That is the ultimate goal. But we aren’t going to be perfect, because we, too, still battle our sinful flesh. It’s how we handle our failures that make people see a difference. We should not be high and mighty, but humble. We should not be judgmental, but understanding. May everything we do point to God and not ourselves.
Wouldn’t it be awesome that the result of people seeing Christ in you is praise to our Father in heaven?
Dear God, I want to be Your light in this dark world. Help me to examine my life and strip away the things that don’t honor You. I want to display Your glory, so that people we see Christ in me and give praise to my Father. Amen.
God is light, and in Him there is no darkness. If we are children of God, then we should be reflecting His light and glory. I pray that I am a light to a dark world.
Heather this was right on! I loved this one. So true.