I started reading through the book of Matthew the other day. I don’t know about you, but at times I have to guard myself against “assuming I know” the text and thus approaching the Scriptures with a prideful complacency. I want to see, through fresh eyes, what God is saying to me each day as I read His word. So as I am working my way through the gospels, my heart’s cry is, “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law”, Psalm 119:18.
Today I read Matthew 5:14-16. It is part of what is called Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Many times in the gospels, you see Jesus saying things like “the kingdom of God is like…”, but in this passage, He is making a declaration.
“YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.”
After this declaration, Jesus then explains how obvious to the world our union with Christ needs to be. “A city on a hill cannot be hidden.” Our union with Christ must be evident. It must be visible.
Jesus didn’t stop there though. He goes on to explain that not only should our union with Christ be visible in the world, but also obvious in our homes. “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.”
Jesus ends this section by saying, “in the same way, let your light shine before others…”. The Greek word for shine (lampō) is in the imperative (it’s a command, not a suggestion), and it means to shine forth, radiate, beam, give light.
As soon as I read the word “radiate”, the Spirit reminded me of Moses. When he would come down off Mt. Sinai after being with God, his face shone (beamed, radiated) with the glory of God, Exodus 34:29-35. When Moses would come down off the mountain, away from the presence of God, he would actually cover his face with a veil as the glory would fade away .
As believers in union with Christ, His Spirit, the very presence of God, dwells inside us. Second Corinthians 3:18 says, “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
You are the light of the world.
Because the Spirit of God indwells us as believers, instead of the radiating glory of God’s presence fading away like Moses experienced, we can experience an ever-increasing glory radiating from us. That glory comes from the Spirit. As we are transformed to be more and more like Jesus, the light radiating from us becomes brighter and brighter.
Jesus closes out this grouping of verses by saying, “…shine…so that (others) may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” That’s the purpose of God making us the light of the world – glory to the Father.
As a moth that is drawn to a flame in the darkness, so should people be drawn to Jesus because of how we live out our lives. So are you radiating the love of Jesus? In the world? How about in your home? Does your life bring glory for your Father? Sobering questions, huh? Yeah, for me too.
You are the light of the world.
Shine with ever increasing radiance.
People will see and God will be glorified.