Matthew 5:14-16
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
The phrase “light of the world” is used twice in Scripture. In John 9:5, Jesus describes himself as the light of the world. This is rather easy to accept, since Jesus is, after all, God. But what are we to do when Jesus says the same thing about us in today’s verse? Well, one of the things we will have to do is seriously revise some of our ideas about what it means to be humble. Apparently, humility does not entail saying things like, “Oh, I’m nothing” or “I shouldn’t try to attempt anything.” Jesus emphatically insists that his followers are something: namely, “a city on a hill” and “a light” and that they are quite capable of doing good works that bring glory to our Father who is in heaven. That, not coincidentally, is what Jesus spent his own life doing and he insists that he remains present with us to the end of the age helping us to walk in his footsteps and in fact inspiring us by his Spirit to do greater works than he himself did while on earth (John 14:12). So don’t be shy. Jesus has called you by name and he has given you gifts to accomplish his work. Step out in faith and let God give the increase. He will.
