Do You Have a Light?
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. – Matthew 5:16.
In order to be the light of the world you must consider the preceding points of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. In order to be the light of the world to those around us we must:
Live a life of selflessness because
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. – Matthew 5:3.
Live a life of brokenness because
Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted. – Matthew 5:4.
Live a life of humbleness because
Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth. – Matthew 5:5.
Live a life of emptiness because
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled. – Matthew 5:6.
Live a life of yieldedness because
Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy. – Matthew 5:7.
Live a life of holiness because
Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God. – Matthew 5:8.
Live a life of peacefulness because
Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God. – Matthew 5:9.
Live a life of readiness. A readiness to die for the Gospel because
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. – Matthew 5:10.
If we have those eight characteristics, we are then a candidate for being a “light of the world.”
Where do we start to be that “light”? We should start in our home. It should start with a family time of sharing the Scriptures and prayer. In the past Christian families would share a devotional time morning, noon, and at night. As we have gotten away from that kind of devotion to the Lord our families and indeed our country has been drawn off course from where we ought to be.
Jesus has given us a high standard. But we have known all along that real Christianity is not easy. Jesus makes that clear when He tells us to deny ourselves, take up our cross and to follow Him.
As hard as the Christian life may sometimes be it is still a much easier yoke than the chains of sin and the benefits are eternal. Let us become the “lights” that we know we ought to be.
(This devotional has been updated from when it was written and sent by email 01.29.1999)