YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

THURSDAY, 4TH MAY, 2023.

Topic: CHRISTIANITY: THE LIFE OF INFLUENCE – Part 4

YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

MEMORIZE: “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” Ephesians 5:8.

SCRIPTURE READING: Matthew 5:13-16

"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. "Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

EXPOSITION:

“Ye are the light of the world,” Matthew 5:14. Light is also useful as the salt. Nothing is more useful than the sun and salt. The combination of the two is so glorious. All Christians are light in the Lord “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” Eph 5:8; and we must shine as lights, but ministers must shine in a special manner. It is written, “that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,” Philippians 2:15. Christ call himself the Light of the world in John 8:12 “Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."”. The disciples and the Christians in general are workers together with him, and have some of his honour put upon them. They must reflect the shining of his light to the world.

Truly the light is good, it is welcome; the light of the first day of the world was so, when it shone out of darkness; so is the morning light of every day; so is the gospel, and those that spread it, to all sensible people. The world sat in darkness, Christ raised up his disciples to shine in it; and, that they may do so, from him they borrow and derive their light. 

 

This similitude is here explained in two things: 

As the lights of the world, they are illustrious and conspicuous, and have many eyes upon them. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. The disciples of Christ, especially those who are forward and zealous in his service, become remarkable, and are taken notice of as beacons. They are for signs (Isaiah 7:18), men wondered at (Zechariah 3:8); all their neighbours have any eye upon them. Some admire them, commend them, rejoice in them, and study to imitate them; others envy them, hate them, censure them, and study to blast them. They are concerned therefore to walk circumspectly, because of their observers; they are as spectacles to the world, and must take heed of everything that looks ill, because they are so much looked at. The disciples of Christ were obscure men before he called them, but the character he put upon them dignified them, and as preachers of the gospel they made a figure; and though they were reproached for it by some, they were respected for it by others, advanced to thrones, and made judges (Luke 22:30); for Christ will honour those that honour him. 

 

PRAYER POINT: Lord, I receive grace to be the light to my world in Jesus name.

DAILY BIBLE READING IN A YEAR –  Ezra 1-4.