Read: Matthew 5:14-16  |

One Sunday on their way home from church, a little girl turned to her mother and said, “Mommy, the preacher’s sermon this morning confused me.” The mother said, “Oh? Why is that?” The little girl replied, “Well, he said that God is bigger than we are. Is that true?” The mother replied, “Yes, that’s true honey.” “And he also said that God lives in us? Is that true, Mommy?” Again, the mother replied, “Yes.” “Well,” said the little girl, “if God is bigger than us and He lives in us, wouldn’t He show through?”

Indeed, the Father of lights shines in us and through us as the children of light.

During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus made the proclamation found in Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world, …”. The imperative is that “you” – the Believer – are a light.

We receive our light from Him at the point of our salvation. Receiving the light is a privilege and a responsibility. It is a privilege granted only to Believers. It is the responsibility of Believers to walk in a manner worthy of our calling by following His heavenly instructions, illuminating where God has placed us and inspiring others to accept the light.

Instruction
To be a light, a light that reveals, exposes and instructs we need to make sure our character, communication and conduct are consistent with God’s instructions. To be a light, we need to dedicate ourselves to prayer, Bible Study, fellowship and praise so that we re-fill the “oil” of the Holy Spirit in our lives. To be a light, we only need to believe in Christ. Our spiritual age is inconsequential. Accept Him and then flame on!

Illumination
The nature of light is to shine. Even a 100-watt light bulb is visible up to a mile or more away in every direction on a clear night. Our illumination should be visible as well. Jesus warns against putting our light under a bowl or a bushel. We put it under a bowl, if we hide our faith at work or at play. We put it under a bowl, when we try to step away from Jesus to join in lock step with sin.

Instead, just as a light gives better illumination when held higher. Let us take the bowl of confessed adultery, fornication, drinking, cursing or whatever bowl we have and turn it over. Turn it over to God and then stand on it. Stand on the promises of God to deliver us from our sins, which elevate Christ. As we elevate our light above the problem, others can see that God does save us and God is Good!

Inspire
Spurgeon notes that God lights us in place – right where we are. It is our job to listen to Him and position ourselves within the places He has planted us. God knows the places that need the illumination and inspiration of our light.

Christ Church in Irving, Texas listened to the plea of the football coach for fan support of his team this past August. The parents of many of the players did not have jobs that allowed them to be off on Friday evening game nights, thus the numbers of fans at a game were down to 20+ people in the grandstands where a thousand or more can sit. The Pastor asked his Church members to adopt a player and attend their games as a community service. The Believers responded and the “lights” re-positioned themselves to inspire and support the team.

The “lights” not only attended the games but also befriended their adopted player. Their light inspired the players by talking to them before and after games. Surely, they inspired and ignited something within the players because of the love they poured into the lives of the kids who were strangers just the month before. The good works of their Church validated their lights and glorified God.

Jesus never challenges us to become salt or light. He simply says that we are. Subsequently, we are either fulfilling or failing our assigned responsibility.

Questions:
1.Discover –
A. Can your co-workers, neighbors and relatives tell that you are a Christian – a child of the Light? If so, how? If not, why not?

2.Develop –
A. Take time today to inspect your life. Ask God to reveal any dimming sin or actions that are keeping your life from brightly showing God’s light. Also, ask God to give you strength to shine for Him even when others would hide their lights out of fear.

3.Demonstrate –
A. Ask God to lead and guide you to someone you can help inspire and/or lead you to a prayer partner whom can help you be accountable for your light. Pray or meet with them at least once a week.