Tuesday — Light of the World
Read: Matthew 5:13–16
SOAP: Matthew 5:14, 16
You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden.
In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven.
Into the Text
We are called to be the light of the world. Like a lighthouse that guides ships to safety on a dark, stormy night, we are a beacon that reflects Jesus to those who are desperately looking for a safe place to land. We guide the lost back home, where Jesus is waiting to offer salvation. We bring color and vibrancy to a dark world, revealing the truth about who God is and what He has done for us. Instead of stumbling around, hoping that the next step is the right one, we shine a light on the path that God marked for us from the very beginning: the path that leads us back to Him, the path that leads us home.
It can feel easier to choose to not engage with the world, to remain tucked away so the darkness and pain and divisiveness can’t find us. But we are not called to hide away. We are called to engage, to light it up, and show others the path that leads to joy, hope, and peace. The light that we shine draws people to us, because somewhere in their hearts is what St. Augustine called a “God-sized hole,” and we can be the ones to help them meet the only One who can fill that void in their life.
Shining your light does not mean that you have to suddenly become an extroverted public speaker who enjoys knocking on the doors of strangers to tell them about Jesus. When you remain close to Jesus, learning more about Him, reading God’s Word, spending time with other believers who encourage and build you up, your everyday, ordinary life will become a light to those around you. When you love people who are difficult to love, you will be a light. When you serve humbly without needing anything in return, you will be a light. When you offer hospitality to those who are normally overlooked, you will be a light. Pray God will give you the opportunities, courage, and words to explain to those around you about the Source of this light. Light it up, friend, right where you are!