Feb 26 2007
Our Mission to the World
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 (New Living Translation)
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16 (King James Version)
Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16 (The Message)
If we live for Christ, we will glow like lights, showing others what Christ is like. Be a beacon of truth—don’t shut your light off from the rest of the world.
This is very encouraging…being the light in the face of darkness (which is too often present in our world today) is definitely something to strive for.
Now I know this is off-topic, but I said this in an older post, so it might help to repeat in a newer one. I hope you’ll bear with me cause this has me really concerned and a bit gloomy (speaking of being “light” in the face of a dark mood!). I’m sure a lot of people who read this blog have heard of that “Jesus’ tomb” documentary apparently coming in March. I wondered what you thought of that, and whether or not I should really look forward to having what I believe in proven “worthless”…
Hi James - I heard about the “Jesus Tomb” documentary on the news last night. Althought I don’t have all the “facts of the documentary” as they have not released it, I beleive that the Bible is inspired by God and is the truth. Men will come up with ideas and ways to try to disprove it. I say let your light shine and God will prove who is correct in the end. Just my thoughts…
Do you remember when you first heard that scripture? That you are the light of the world? I bet it happened earlier than you think… Remember the song you probably sung as a child?
“This little light of mine,
I’m going to let it shine.
This little light of mine,
I’m going to let it shine.
This little light of mine,
I’m going to let it shine,
Every day, every day”
Matthew 5:13-16 goes on to say “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
Let your good deeds illuminate the path, because you are the light of the world. Put your light on its stand and shine with God’s love, and let your good deeds show the world that Love Wins.
Thank you Kent…my worries do usually fit two categories: 1) Getting upset because someone is being overly negative, or 2) Worrying that the person who bothered me might have a point. I think here, it was a combination of both, #2 for the story itself, then #1 for the people who defended it by degrading our religion.
James, I understand your concerns about this documentary coming out soon but I don’t think you need to worry about it at all. There are always going to be attempts to discredit our faith with rediculous theories. It doesn’t matter what it is… documentaries or the DaVinci Code or whatever. They aren’t presenting anything we haven’t heard before.
Keep in mind what it says in 1 Timothy 4: 1-2:
1The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.
One of my University professors said, “The truth always rises to the surface.” Let me encourage you to hold on to the truth we’ve found in Jesus. The Bible will always be found to be true.
If you need a refresher on the veracity of scripture, you might want to check out a podcast called “DaVinci and the Bible”. It will refute the theories presented in DaVinci Code and, I suspect, this documentary to your satisfaction. You can get it through iTunes or at Liquidchurch.com.