Today’s Reading: Matthew 5:14-15 (HCSB)
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.
Today’s Question: If asked candidly, whom would your friends say you are most like?
Today’s Commentary:
The world in which we live is a dark place. But if our lives as Christians look no different from that of those who walk in the darkness, then we have nothing to offer to the world. To be effective disciples, we have to reflect the light, which is Christ who is in us.
Pastor Ray Pritchard tells this story: “A little boy was sitting in church with his mom one day. As he looked up at the beautiful stained glass windows, he saw faces in the glass. ‘Mom, who are those people in the window?’ he asked. ‘Those are the saints,’ she answered. The little boy thought for awhile and then said, ‘Oh, I know who the saints are. They’re the ones that let the light in.’” (from the book, Light of the World)
The question that should be asked here is: Who is the light of the world? Jesus said in John 8:12 that He is the light of the world. Yet, in this passage, He states His disciples are the light of the world. Do we have a biblical contradiction? Not hardly!
I have heard a great illustration in many forums before. The sun provides light for us during the day and the moon at night. But the moon does not create light. It simply reflects the light of the sun. I am not the “light of the world” in the sense that my goodness is shining. I am light because Christ will shine through me as I allow Him to work in my life. I will radiate His glory.
This concept is much like some of the favorite toys of my children. They are fascinated with items that glow in the dark. On a recent trip, my wife bought our three boys shirts that have an animal imprint on the front that glows in the dark. When we first unpacked the presents from our suitcase, the boys put the shirts on and ran to turn off the lights in the room. They were terribly disappointed that their shirts failed to glow. But they were unaware of a critical concept: glow in the dark items must first be exposed to bright light. I turned on a bright lamp, put each shirt near the bulb, turned the lights back off, and wah-lah, like magic, we had glow in the dark animals on their chests.
Christians will not shine unless we have heavy exposure to Jesus. The more time we spend with Him, getting to know Him and His will, the more we will reflect His glory and shine brightly in the darkness of the world around us.
Today, I have a unique favor to ask of the blog readers. I came across a quote and would like to get your opinion on it. Please take 5 seconds and respond to the following:
“Follow One, Lead Others” Principle #12: Christians are those who should reflect the undeniable light and truth of Jesus.
Today’s Prayer Point: Pray that God would increase our influence on others as we spend more time with Him.
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Shepherding Well 