Reflecting Son Shine
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. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16
Was Jesus contradicting Himself when He told His followers that they were the light of the world? He said that about Himself: “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). The rest of John 8 mentions his followers, “Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” The light is not ours. We reflect Jesus’ light.
Jesus uses three words for “light” in Matthew 5:14-16. “You are the phōs of the world, meaning ”the light such as that emitted by a lamp, a star, fire or a torch.” He uses kaiō, an action word meaning “to set on fire, light, or burn.” And He uses lampō meaning “shine”: “It gives lampō, ” and “let your light lampō.”*
We can’t create the light. David reminds us, “You, LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light” (Psalm 18:28). Lamps, stars, fires, and torches all need to be lit. We need to receive His Light and to allow it to shine, to let it come out for others to see.
Jesus’ words in Matthew 5 are a command, a call to action: “let your light shine before others.” Can others see in me a passionate, burning fervor for the Lord? Do I hide myself? What darkness in my life comes between me and The Light?
Good deeds haven’t saved me, but when I do the good deeds God asks me to do, He will be glorified. For instance, “If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday” (Isaiah 58:10).
The world is getting darker and darker, but the Light has come and the darkness will not overcome it. “Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, LORD” (Psalm 89:15).
Are you reflecting the Son shine?
DIG DEEPER:
Contrast the light of the righteous and the darkness of the wicked described in Proverbs 4:18. Note that it doesn’t say the righteous shine brighter every day. What does shine brighter? How does that apply to your life?
According to Isaiah 58:1-8 what causes our light to “break forth like the dawn”? Why wasn’t God impressed with the religious rituals of Israel?
Read Ephesians 5:3-15. What fruit is characteristic of darkness and of light? Have you seen a change in the fruit in your life?
See another devotion about light in the Bible, Light.
Nancy J. Baker
*Blue Letter Bible. “Dictionary and Word Searches:for phōs (Strong’s 5457)”. Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2013. 19 Jul 2013. < http:// www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?
strongs=G5457 >for kaiō (Strong’s 2545)”. Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2013. 19 Jul 2013. < http:// www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm? for lampō (Strong’s 2989)”. Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2013. 19 Jul 2013. < http:// www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?