How to be the light?

In one of our online meetings last month, I shared about how should we, Christians, live out our faith in this world in our daily lives. Matthew 5:14-16 tells us what our Lord Jesus Christ said:

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

One of the girls shared their thoughts: “I’m not sure if I’ve become the light, there were times when I was tempted to not be one,” and another one, “I don’t know if I give enough impact that I can be called the light.” Do you find those thoughts familiar? How can we be the light?

1. Connect to the source

Matthew 5 is the teaching of Jesus to His disciples and the crowd that followed Him. Do you notice something? Jesus did not say, “Be the light of the world” He said, “You are the light of the world.” It is not a request, it is a statement. Jesus did not ask His disciples to be someone they are not, He stated the identity of His followers.

You are the light of the world.
A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Matthew 5:14 (ESV)

“But how?” we may ask. In another teaching noted in John 8:12, Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me, will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Whoever follows Jesus will have the light of life. In other words, if we do not follow Jesus, we have no light in us. We are the light of the world only if we follow the true Light of the world.

Sin entered the world through the disobedience of one man, Adam. But by the grace of God, God Himself came in human form and obeyed to the point of death, showing us that it is possible to obey; Jesus was the living example of obedience to the word of God. Read His words and do it the way Jesus did.

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
Luke 9:23 (ESV)

Don’t you agree that we do not have the power to shine on our own? I give you the example of my table lamp, it doesn’t have to worry whether it will lighten the room or not, its shine just brightens my workspace when I connect it to the power. In the same way, I don’t have to worry about how my action or words will lighten the world around me, as long as I connect myself to the power of Jesus’ love, I will shine. With that being said, let’s connect our minds to God’s words, our words to His teaching, and our action to His example of obedience, and by then we will shine in the light of God’s glory, and lighten the space God puts us in.

2. Walk together

You are never alone. Not only with Jesus, but following Him gives us company with one another as children of light. There are many children of the Lord and someday we‘ll gather together on the day when Jesus comes. You and I may not know each other in person, but we meet in the prayers to the same Father, hold the same words of His Spirit, and live in the same faith in Jesus’ life and resurrection. Children of light walk in God’s goodness and righteousness, we are in companionship with each other to do what is pleasing to God.

For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the world. Walk as children of light.
Ephesians 5:8 (ESV)

Brothers and sisters, let us find the opportunity to be in fellowship with the believers. Even when you can’t get one in your neighborhood, online friendship works too! Start to hold each other with prayers, pray for me as I also pray for you. Pray for the other believers in your area, in your city, in your state, in your country, and beyond. Many of them need to walk solo in their faith, but they are not alone because you pray for and with them. Study the Bible together, and find what is true, because not every Christian-related post on the internet is true. I once gave my disagreement with a Christian blogger about what she posted, but we are good. She understood my point and I understood hers, we complete each other and walk together as children of light.

We live in this world but are not part of it. We walk on this earth, yet do not follow its path. How should we spend our days here, then? By living our lives in fellowship with Christ, the Lord, the true light, holding fast to Him so we could shine as light in the world. May the Lord bless you!

Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
Philippians 2:14-16

Thank you for reading this article, I hope you feel blessed as I do! I would be really happy to hear your thoughts too about God and all His goodness. I am currently working on other psalms by David and also the songs for the church in the Epistles. You can subscribe to get the newest updates from these articles. See you!

Tiny Little Things