Kingdom Light

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

Jesus has given us rest for our souls (grace.) And because of our acceptance, He has poured rivers of living waters into and through our hearts (the Holy Spirit.) We are not to hoard or hide the gifts He has given us, but to use them for His glory. Through our salvation we are God’s living temple. The Holy Spirit indwells us. In this passage from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is telling the disciples, and by extension, us, that we are the light of the world. We can’t hide that light, but must allow it to shine forth. How do we do that? By walking it out with Christ in our daily lives, using the gifts of salvation and ministry He has given us.

Flying insects are naturally attracted to light bulbs glowing on a dark night. It is hard for them to resist. So it can be with non-believers and strayed believers. God made us lights of the world, so that His light will shine through us for all to see. He knows our tendencies to hoard and to hide. It’s hard to do that when we have that supernatural attractive light bursting from our pores. We know that nobody can come to the Father, unless Jesus calls them. He doesn’t stand on a street corner with a bull horn and call out people’s names, or does He? He doesn’t just lean over and whisper in someone’s ear, “Come.” He does that sometimes. He also uses all the tools at His disposal. We are some of those tools in his toolbox. People see us walking in joy, unaffected by events around us, always finding good in everything, humble, gentle, patient, treating all with love. They are curious and approach to see where we get such gifts. That is Jesus using us to draw people to Him, assuming we don’t blow it because we were too busy, not paying attention, not seeking such opportunities, or put off by appearances.

How many of us hear a good message at church on Sunday, or receive some awesome advise in a small church life group, and go home, filing away what you heard or learned, never to be thought of again, maybe because it doesn’t apply to you? Maybe Jesus put you in position to hear that word, because someone who really needed that word would cross your path so that you could deliver that word. That’s why the light in us comes without an off switch. Just like some people may need to be baited into seeking God, some of us need to be put in situations where we have no choice but to minister. We must always be ready to respond with a word. That’s how we walk out being the light of Christ in this dark world. We often tell our GriefShare and DivorceCare participants to make every effort to attend all sessions in the cycle, even if they feel a particular session doesn’t apply to them. Either they might hear something that will come to mind some time in the future when talking to someone who could truly benefit from what you learned. Or someone at the session you felt was inapplicable is encouraged because you were able to share something they needed to hear.

Be bold, as Paul and Barnabas were in being rejected by the Jews, yet welcomed by the Gentiles while preaching in Antioch. They responded to the Jews in Acts 13:47 by saying, “For so the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.'”

They were fulfilling their destiny. Are you? Be Blessed!