MATTHEW 5:14-16

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

TO PONDER

I've been thinking about light a lot this week. Light is in fact the antidote to darkness. Unfortunately, what seems to be the predominant approach to getting rid of darkness in our culture today is to 'fight fire with fire' or to fight darkness with darkness.

What I mean by that is that our society seems to be operating in the understanding that is someone or something offends me or challenges my understanding of the world, or even my understanding of God's word, then my response should be one of aggression, that if I have my claims or assertions about the world questioned then I have the right to come out swinging.

That's not how Jesus did things and it's not how he calls us to do things. We are to shine the light of his love in the face of darkness because it is the perfect love of Christ that drives out all fear and darkness. It will often be hard to show love when we feel attacked or oppressed by those wielding power or authority over us, or when we have been hurt or injured by those we thought we might be able to trust. But Jesus love drove him to the cross and was placed on a hill for all to see. Surely whatever burden or cost there might be for us to stand on a hill and shine that light is insignificant to the cost Jesus paid for us.

You are the light of the world, Let your light shine for all to see.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, no greater love has any man shown that the love you showed in laying down your life for me. Please help me to show and shine the light of that love in my life and not to let the darkness of this world lead me to hide it way. Use me and my life to drive out darkness by the light of your love which is alive in me. Amen