Let the Light Shine
“You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house.” - Matthew 5:14-15
Jesus did not say you might be the light of the world. He said you are. That means this is not something you can opt out of. If you follow Jesus, your life is meant to shine. You are called to reflect His light into the darkest corners of the world.
Salt speaks to your character. Light speaks to your conduct. Salt is about who you are. Light is about what you do. Jesus says the world is filled with darkness, so He places His light in you so that others can see what He is like. Just like the moon reflects the light of the sun, your life is meant to reflect the love and glory of Jesus.
And when you reflect Him, you make Him visible. That is why Jesus says a city on a hill cannot be hidden. People are supposed to see the way you live. Not so they can praise you, but so they can be drawn to the God you serve.
But far too often, we try to cover the light. We want to shine, but only in safe places. We want to follow Jesus, but still fit in with the world. That was me as a teenager. I believed in Jesus. I wanted to follow Him. But I also wanted to keep doing what everyone else was doing. I tried to be both, but here is the problem: covered light does not help anyone. A lamp hidden under a basket cannot light up a room.
You were not saved to stay hidden. You were not set apart so you could blend in. You were lit up by the grace of God so you could light the way for someone else. So let your life shine. Let your words shine. Let your choices shine. And may every person who sees your light come to know the source behind it.
Jesus did not say you might be the light of the world. He said you are. That means this is not something you can opt out of. If you follow Jesus, your life is meant to shine. You are called to reflect His light into the darkest corners of the world.
Salt speaks to your character. Light speaks to your conduct. Salt is about who you are. Light is about what you do. Jesus says the world is filled with darkness, so He places His light in you so that others can see what He is like. Just like the moon reflects the light of the sun, your life is meant to reflect the love and glory of Jesus.
And when you reflect Him, you make Him visible. That is why Jesus says a city on a hill cannot be hidden. People are supposed to see the way you live. Not so they can praise you, but so they can be drawn to the God you serve.
But far too often, we try to cover the light. We want to shine, but only in safe places. We want to follow Jesus, but still fit in with the world. That was me as a teenager. I believed in Jesus. I wanted to follow Him. But I also wanted to keep doing what everyone else was doing. I tried to be both, but here is the problem: covered light does not help anyone. A lamp hidden under a basket cannot light up a room.
You were not saved to stay hidden. You were not set apart so you could blend in. You were lit up by the grace of God so you could light the way for someone else. So let your life shine. Let your words shine. Let your choices shine. And may every person who sees your light come to know the source behind it.
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