I have been a bit under the weather for a few days. I think God often uses times like this in my life to help me slow down and, hopefully rest, but also give me time to reflect and pray. Yesterday, I had to preach by video (not wanting to share the joy of the flu with our church family), but I felt it was important to wrap up a series that we have been in since the beginning of January – Inside Out.
The text for yesterday’s sermon was Matthew 5:14-16. In these verses, Jesus reminds us that as His followers, we are “the light of the world.” This is a powerful and humbling statement full of significance. In John 8:12, Jesus called Himself the light of the world. This statement in John is one of seven “I Am” statements. So, for Jesus to include us, His followers, in this description is powerful. As Jesus followers we are invited into His redemption ministry and commanded to make a difference by making disciples.
Each of us has a purpose and that purpose is to glorify God in all we do so that others are shown the way to Jesus. Verse 16 of Matthew 5 reminds us that we are to let our light shine before others so that they may see our good deeds – our Godly lifestyle – and praise God. You are to be a reflection of the one true light and when you reflect Him well, others see, and their path to Jesus becomes a bit more illumined.
I shared a haunting question in my sermon that has been a point of tension for me for over a week: “Do the people who encounter me on a daily basis, see anything in me that prompts them to praise God?”
Maybe that is a question you need to wrestle with today as well.
We are to strive to be light that points others to Jesus. Shine your light today.
Clay in the Hands 