“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16
Jesus tells us, as His disciples, that we are the light of the world. Note that He does not say we should be or could be – we are!
As disciples of Jesus, we are lights in this world because we know Jesus and are being changed into His glorious image (cf. 2 Corinthians 3:18; Romans 8:29). In fact, we are the only reflection of Jesus that many will ever see – the only light shining in their dark and sinful world!
In the same way as one would not light a lamp and hide it under a bushel basket but put it on a lampstand to give light to all who are in the house, so also a Christian, who walks in fellowship with God through faith in Jesus’ blood, shed upon the cross for our sins, will not want to hide his faith and devotion to Christ Jesus, but let the light of God’s grace and mercy to us in His Son shine that others too might come to that light and see.
As Jesus says, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Rather than hiding our faith in Jesus and His atoning sacrifice for our sins, we are to live for Him who died for us and rose again (cf. 2 Cor. 5:15). We are to let the true Light of the world, Jesus the Savior, shine through us in this dark and dying world.
Note, too, that Jesus does not tell us to do good works that men may see and glorify us. Rather we should let our lights shine in such a way that men see the working of God in us and glorify Him! After all, it is only by God’s grace and mercy in Messiah Jesus that any of us can know God the Father or walk in His ways (cf. Eph. 2:8-10).
Jesus, God’s Son and true man, shed His blood on the cross to redeem all of us and pay the just penalty for the sins of the world that we might have pardon and peace with God our Father through faith in His name. And Jesus sent forth His Word and poured out His Holy Spirit upon us to enlighten and regenerate us, bringing us to know and trust in Christ Jesus, our Savior, and giving us new life in Him.
Indeed, Jesus is Himself that Light that we who trust in Him and follow Him are to reflect openly in this world (cf. John 8:12).
O dearest Jesus, the Light of this dark and dying world, enlighten our hearts with the good news of forgiveness and life through faith in Your name and shine upon us and through us, making us lights in this world, that others too may see and look to You in faith for life everlasting! Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible]