LIGHT

LIGHT

Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.  (15)  No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.  (16)  In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

We are the light of the world. Jesus came as the original light (John 1:9), but here He passes onto us the task of being the light of the world. With that task is the instruction not to hide that light. Many mistake this light for the spoken gospel, but Jesus clarifies what He is talking about in verse 16 where He says, “In the same way, let your good deeds shine out…” It is good deeds that shine the light. The word translated “deeds” in the NLT would better be translated “works” which carries the idea of an extended on going undertaking. In other words, let all your deeds, works be good in such a way as to show you are a child of God.

Elsewhere, Jesus tells us that the world will know we are His disciples by our love for one another. I have met many people who I could tell were believers by the way they did business and by how they treated other people. 

“For all to see-“ Don’t hide the fact that you are His child. Live righteously in front of others. Now this may seem to be a contradiction to Matthew 6:1 which tells us not to do our “good works publicly, to be admired of others…” It is not a contradiction but a command to know our motives. A pure motive is that “everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” An impure motive is that everyone will praise you.

This is not an impossibility because Christ tells us to do what we do openly for God’s glory, so it can be done. I believe the answer is found in prayer.

Father in heaven, as Jesus taught us to pray, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Cleanse our motives and cause us to live in such a way as to glorify You. May we live holy, pure lives and have motives and thoughts that please You. In Jesus Name, AMEN!!!