Matthew 5 - 7.30.24
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 5:14 – 16
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 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. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
OBSERVATION:
Jesus is speaking to his disciples in chapter 5 in the Sermon on the Mount. He begins with the qualities and experiences that bless the people who live their life in Christ. This section is famously called the Beatitudes. As a believer, the Beatitudes is a Godly roadmap of how He wants to bless us as we walk, talk, think, act and experience our day-to-day life. The Beatitudes show how believers receive blessings. The next section, verses 14 -16, show how believers impact the world.
Jesus begins in verse 14 with a statement: You are the light of the world. As a believer in this dark and dreary world, God’s light in us shines to others. This is especially true if we use the Beatitudes as our example of how God wants us to live – and how He will bless us, and ultimately how we can show God’s light to others. Jesus then makes a statement: “A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.” If God’s light within us shines, when we do His deeds, it’s impossible for others to not see it.
Verse 15 is a challenge to those who might have ever hidden their faith or the light in their life. He uses the logical way we use light in a room. Someone would never light a lamp and then cover it with a bowl. That seems so silly to even imagine! He then said “Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.” Jesus used this contrast to explain the importance of not holding back our light to the world. It’s also an encouragement that our light will shine around to everyone we encounter – as long as we don’t intentionally hide it.
Jesus concludes, in verse 16, the whole reason for sharing our light and not hiding it: so our good deeds (see the Beatitudes) will cause others to give glory to God. Each time we help someone in need, lead someone to Christ, pray with someone, lend a hand, support those suffering, and all other good deeds, we are shining His light to a dark, lost, and hurting world.
APPLICATION
In hearing Jesus’ words that “you are the light of the world”, I am encouraged and empowered to be the light He wants me to be. When I read the part about hiding His light, I’m also convicted. Throughout my Christian life, it’s been easy to share how Jesus transformed my life, saved me, and is the light in my life, yet I’ve struggled with the individual process of leading people to Christ. It’s not that I’ve never led someone to Christ – just that it’s not been as often as there have been opportunities. I hid my light out of fear, embarrassment – you name it. I know that God highlighted this scripture to me as an encouragement and motivation to shine my light, in all circumstances, so God gets all the glory.
PRAYER
Lord, I’m so thankful for your saving grace. You have transformed my life from the pit of hell and darkness to being in the light. I want your light in my life to shine bright for all to see – and to give you all the glory. It is because of you that my life has been transformed. Help me, Lord, to be bold in sharing your saving grace with others, and to never hide your light to those around me. In Jesus mighty name I pray. Amen and Amen.
- Mary Oberg
