Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12
You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14
Jesus declared himself as the light of the world, and He affirmed the same attribute over us. His ministry was to light the path and show the Way to the Lord, and He has imparted to us the same ministry as His ambassadors in a dark world.
Just prior to Jesus’s declaration that we are the light of the world, He preached about the beatitudes in Matthew 5. It’s as if He gave us the characteristics of being light and salt in a darkened world. The beatitudes are not something that the natural man is capable of doing in the flesh. However, a spiritual regenerated man can grow into by the power of the Holy Spirit.
As we grow in Christ, we exhibit the poverty of spirit, and we become meek peacemakers who are full of mercy. We let go of the pollution generated by self and allow God’s light to shine through us. The beauty of light is that it doesn’t have to work hard at being light. As our soul changes, the light becomes part of us.
The main condition to be light is to be connected to the source of light who is Jesus. When we are in the right relationship with the Lord, we can shine brightly on a continuous basis regardless of circumstances.
The world needs the light in us desperately. Our light can bring clarity in a situation. It can help someone gain a new perspective in life. The light of Jesus in us can hold up a standard at our workplace. Our light can bring hope to someone who has been stuck in a bad situation for a long time. The Lord can use us in so many ways to touch the world around us.
Some people will not like the light because it exposes the hidden dark things of the flesh. Jesus was hated by those who desired to stay in the darkness and had no aspiration for change. On the other hand, those who were looking for light and direction were drawn to Jesus. This is why the Christian life seems so schizophrenic sometimes. On one hand, we may be loved and sought after, and on the other hand, rejected and marginalized!
Light is not meant to be hidden. We don’t have to apologize for who God has made us to be. If we are truly walking in the beatitudes described in Matthew 5, we are not operating in the flesh but in the Spirit. When we are pushed aside, there is no need to take things personally but celebrate that we are living out our calling. Rejection of the light is part of the life we have chosen.
Let your light shine today by living out the beatitudes described in Matthew 5 and allow God to use you to bring hope to a dark corner of the world! Amen!