You Are the Light of the World

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.”

Don’t miss it. There is an identity that speaks over you in this verse. You ARE the light of the world.

Not:

You should be a light in the world.

You ought to be a light in the world.

Why don’t you be a light in the world?

You ARE.

Sit in that a moment and speak it over yourself.

One version says, “Your life lights up the world.”

Another says, “You’re here to be a light,
bringing out the God-colors in the world.”

You are a light!

In a time when the world is dark, you, my friend, are light. You can shine in so many ways. What if you stopped to ask the Lord for ways to impact your sphere of influence? Is there a way that he is already at work where you can join him? Pay attention if an idea comes to mind that you wouldn’t have thought of yourself.

If you are a creator, ask how you can use your creative endeavors to be a light. The ideas are endless. One of my friends creates handmade birthday cards for every person in their family. She looks for ideas in each person’s life over the year and incorporates their big moments into their cards. It is a labor of love. The love of the Lord is all over each creation.

I have another friend who owns a farm. Every fall, she invites her church family out for a fall party. They have hay rides and bonfires. Her gift of hospitality reflects the Lord so beautifully.

Another amazing lady I know is a hairdresser. Every single person who comes to sit in her chair is an opportunity to encourage someone in the Lord. She often prays for people before they leave.

You are needed at this time and place.

“God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill.”

Let’s go pubic with the Good News in whatever ways we can. His love for us and all that he has done for us through his death, burial, and resurrection really is too good to keep to ourselves.

We don’t have to be scared. When you turn on a light switch, the light dispels the darkness. It just happens. What if we saw ourselves this way? The Holy Spirit in us is the same one who raised Jesus from the dead. When we show up as a light, we are co-laboring with him. The darkness has to flee. So instead of letting the darkness intimidate us, let’s shift our thinking and get our eyes off our abilities and put them on the one who had defeated death and the grave. Yes, those are big words. It is crazy Good News. And that is exactly why we need to posture ourselves to walk in who we have been created to be. The light of the world. “A city on a hill that cannot be hidden.”

Let’s pray:

Father, thank you that you have chosen me and determined that I am a light in the world. Help my thinking line up with my identity in you. Help me to see how I shine for you. Help me to link my arm into yours and join you in shining in the dark places of my sphere of influence. Help me to be aware of your Holy Spirit in me, and may my confidence in you be the game-changer in my willingness to make a difference here and now. Amen