“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)
A light is meant to shine and give direction. People who believe in Jesus radiate His light pointing others to His goodness and to the proper path of salvation. Our influence being palpable because we have been entrusted through the power of the Holy Spirit with the same life changing, world altering, radical holiness that our Lord exuded as we continually relinquish control of our flesh. Light radiating people live in such a way as to point others to the Source of their Light – which, of course, is the Savior. Our good deeds bring forth much praise - not to us - but to the Father Who equips us. And the One Who gives the power gets the glory, Amen?
We live in an antagonistic society but remember so did Jesus when He walked this dusty earth. Yet He was mercy and grace-filled in motion. Jesus is the Light of the world and He bequeathed to every subsequent believer in Him the Torch of the Holy Spirit to carry forth His light to each of our spheres of influence. That is the way the Gospel spreads.
Sometimes we reject the notion to “shine like stars in the universe” as we hold out the Word of life often because we feel our unworthiness. But light is now part of our nature as a believer and we are to stand out just as a city on a hill does. The Christian’s life should shine so brightly that no one could live with him a week without knowing Whose he is and Who he serves. The believer reflects in his actions the image of Jesus. He has set us apart and equipped us to light up the world with His love. Each heart has a part in pointing sinners to the Savior and the weary and wanting to the well.
Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life--in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. Philippians 2:14-16 (NIV)