Being light.
“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” Matthew 5:14-16
This ‘light’ analogy has always fascinated me. Jesus calls us ‘light’ and tells us to take that light into the world. He’s assuming we understand that there is darkness without him. He’s assuming we understand that when we follow him, when we carry his Spirit in us, our movement into the world will bring His light.
It’s interesting to think about the different streams within the church, and how they react to these assumptions. We’re either taking the light into the world, or we’re not, right? And let’s not get caught up in what exactly ‘carrying the light’ looks like. It can take on as many forms as there are people…. we all have different gifts and recognize different needs around us. So, what would be the reason for a Jesus- follower to NOT do this? Why would such a person NOT be bringing light to the world around them?
As best I can tell, it would come down to two things:
(1) not believing there is darkness
(2) not believing we walk in the Light
Another possible answer is ‘fear’, but the story behind our fear usually comes down to one of these same two things. Think about it. When you are afraid to step out and carry Jesus’ light into the world around you, what have you stopped believing?
A line from the hymn “O Jesus I Have Promised” caught my attention today:
O Jesus I have promised to serve thee to the end;
Be thou forever near me, My Master and My Friend.
I shall not fear the battle if thou art by my side,
Nor wander from the pathway if thou wilt be my guide.
It’s the line “I shall not fear the battle if thou art by my side”.
I realize this morning that this isn’t true for me. I HAVE promised to serve, I DO want to stay near to Jesus, I DON’T want to wander, I DO want to follow.
But I have NOT promised to not fear. I do not always successfully address my fears this way. I DO fear the battles. I DO let fear have a place in my head. And now I’m not just talking about the fear of being the light in the world. I’m talking about the fear that something will happen to my family… that I will irreversibly screw up my children. But… again… that fear comes down to that thing listed as #2 above, doesn’t it?
Your thoughts?
