The Light of the World

Dear Friends,

Nearing the end of my walk around the neighborhood today, I looked to my left and I noticed a hill. Now this hill has always been there, as I can see it when I leave my home daily. However, today during my walk the hill took on a new meaning. No matter where I walked, I could see this hill in the distance. It bought to mind the fifth chapter of Matthew where Jesus, was teaching the disciples about the beatitudes, if you have never studied them go check them out Matthew 5:1-13. However my focus for this devotional today in on text found in Matthew 5:14 (TPT), which says, “Your lives light up the world. Let others see your light from a distance, for how can you hide a city that stands on a hilltop?” I am going to answer this question for us, “WE CAN’T!”

No matter where I walked, I could look up, and see the hilltop. We know that the sole purpose of light, is to make things manifest, and provide us with a way to see in darkness. It is our mandate as Christ followers to be the vessel to which His light can shine through. It’s not enough to just represent Him in church. We have to represent Him everywhere we go. We are the Church of Jesus Christ, and if Jesus likened us to a city that sits upon a hill. Then we can no longer try to hide our city, and try to fit in .

Truth is, we can’t hide a city on a hill! We are called to be that “City on Hill.” Our everyday lives are visible for all to see whether we want it to be, or not. We carry influence whether it is positive or negative. We either reflect Christ with our lives, or deflect Him . There is no reason that anyone shouldn’t be able to tell that we are a Christ follower. Believe me, the world is watching, and it needs to see our light shine brighter than ever in these times of darkness. Listen, this cannot be done this in our own wisdom. We need the Holy Spirit’s guidance! We need Him in all of our relationships, in our conversations, on our jobs, in the grocery store and at the gas station. We may be quarantined and limited, but the Holy Spirit in us should be contagious.

My friends, I will end this devotional with the words of Jesus. He admonished His disciples with this, "So don’t hide your light! Let it shine brightly before others, so that the commendable things you do will shine as light upon them, and then they will give their praise to your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16 TPT). If we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, then we are His disciples. I pray that Matthew 5:14-16, becomes evident to all that encounters us daily.

A City of Light For All to See,

Chanda Rose

(TPT-The Passion Translations)