Reflect The Light Of The Son

A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
–Matthew 5:14-15

In John 9:5, Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world.” But in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said to His followers, “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). Jesus is like the sun, and we as Christians are like the moon–we cannot generate light, but we reflect the light of the Son. That is our purpose here on this earth. We are salt, but we are also light. After all, what use is it to create spiritual thirst in people if you never introduce them to the water of life, Jesus Christ? What use is it to delay God’s judgment on the world if you do not tell people how to escape that judgment? That is why Jesus said we are the light of the world.

I am reminded of the story of the Christian whose coworker was not a believer. The Christian thought, “I will live out my faith, and maybe my coworker will also come to faith in Christ.” So he never mentioned he was a Christian; he just tried to witness through his attitude and actions. After twenty years, the non-Christian came in to work one morning and said, “The most marvelous thing has happened! Last night I trusted in Christ to be my Savior.”

The first man said, “That is wonderful! What led you to do that?”

His coworker replied, “You know, I thought if anybody could work his way to heaven, it would be you. I never knew you were a Christian. But last night, my next-door neighbor showed me how I could come to know Christ as well.”

Living out our faith is great, but if that is not accompanied by an explanation, we can actually confuse people about the way to eternal life. That is why Peter said in 1 Peter 3:15, “Always [be] ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you.” Make sure you are ready to lead people to the truth of Jesus Christ.

Jesus likened believers to a city set on a hill (Matthew 5:14) and a lamp set on a lampstand (v. 15). For a light to be effective, it has to be seen. In fact, light is of little value in the light–it is in the darkness that it does its work. Perhaps you have wondered, “Why did God put me in this company where there are no other Christians?” Or, “Why did God put me in this neighborhood where I am the only believer?” You have just answered your own question. Light is most effective in the midst of the darkness. God put you and me in this dark world to be light.

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Today’s devotion is excerpted from “Straight Talk About Your Faith” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2022.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org