ETERNITY

[Ranb2khz]

The Light of the World

“You are the light of the world. A town built 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.” ~ Matthew 5:14-15

Jesus is also the great light of the world:

"Then Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”" ~ John 8:12

Those who believe in Him are brought out of darkness into His light:

"May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience, with joy giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled us to share in the saints’ [holy ones] inheritance in the light. He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves." ~ Colossians 1:11-13

And in turn become lights also. In essence, they live the Beatitudes. What does light do?

• It exposes dirt -

If Christians live holy and righteous lives, it will show up the unrighteous deeds of others (Ephesians 5:6-14). An example is that people who take bribes feel very vulnerable if there are others that don't. Christians who work in government offices can, by their uprightness and integrity, diminish the amount of corruption just by their very presence and principles.

• It lights up the way so that we do not stumble -

If Christians walk by the principles of the Word of God, their lives take on a higher purpose and direction than that of self. This will not fail to attract the attention of a watching world. The world then is faced with a choice — to accept or reject such a model. To those who reject, that light becomes darkness. But for those who accept, that light illumines their lives and they will not make wrong choices.

• It discourages works of darkness -

More crimes are committed at night than in the daytime.
It dispels fear - When light shines, the phantoms of the night just fade away. People who are afraid of the dark prefer to sleep with the light on.

Light even enables discernment to be made — between friend and foe and between truth and counterfeit. It enables work to be done. Light enables plants to grow. Used in modern technology, it aids in telecommunications (fiber optics), helps to heal (lasers), and aids in publishing books.

The light of the gospel also blesses in so many ways. And Christians who walk in it can in turn help others by sharing the knowledge they have concerning life, death, sin, salvation, God, the devil, heaven and hell. For these are the issues that plague man on a wide scale and for which they are striving to find adequate answers. The light will be recognized, not just in words, but in “good deeds” which lead others to praise our Father in heaven.

Response:

Lord, I want my life to count for You and Your kingdom. Help me be a lighthouse for You.

Prayer:

Lord, forgive me when I grieve Your Holy Spirit by what I do and what I say and how I say it.


~ Excerpt from: http://us13.campaign-archive2.com/?u=4095fe8e93e66f79fa4625ef7&id=152b58e368