You Are The Light of The World

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 

If you know Christ and you have a personal relationship with Him - if you have the Holy Spirit living within you, He is there to help you work through all your fears. God will give you the ability to do what is required; the desire to love when others hate; the self control when all around you are throwing all restraint to the wind. God's will is that you have confidence. When you grow into adulthood, you go through big changes. You must be willing to face your fears and He will carry you through it. To live a Christian life in a secular world, it takes a lot of courage to say "yes" to Jesus. Especially when those around you are saying "yes" to things that are the opposite of what God desires for you. Not only do you have to be able to say yes to God, but also to say "no" to things. Saying no takes a lot of courage. But you are not alone if you have the Spirit with you. 

When you start to make decisions for your own life it is important to make right decisions. A lot of young people take advantage of their new-found freedom and veer off in the wrong direction. They have a tendency to let the world in and crowd Jesus out. Stay true to Him. He has a plan for your life. God desires from each of us that we are that shining light for Him.

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16 

These words from Christ bring to mind what it means to influence. One definition is the act or power to produce effect. You can have an influence on others or you can be influenced by others. You have a choice and you have to make it, as to which part of "Influence" you will be.

Your relationship with Jesus is personal, but in no way is it private. You are a light on a stand to show forth the light of Jesus Christ. You are called and challenged to be the light of the world. As we shine forth His light to the world, we are not the light: we reflect His light. That is a part of His Plan, be open to His leading, and He will!

"Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.” John 3:19-21

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12

We are called to receive this light. It is not enough to be exposed to this light, we have to respond to it. We have to make a choice. God gives us the right that if we believe and receive Him, we become a child of God. It is just that simple. When we receive that light, we are to walk in it. 

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:7 

Isn't it wonderful to know we have One who came for us to purify us from all sin? He cleanses us in a way we cannot cleanse ourselves. You are a city on a hill, a light on a stand. We are to be His light in the world, reflecting His light. If you are in the darkness, you need to come to the light. And if you are in the light - if you have that relationship with Christ, then you need to start making a difference in the darkness that is around every one of us. We are also to be the salt of the earth. 

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. Matthew 5:13 

We are here to make an influence for Him the rest of our days. We can only benefit the world in which we live when we live as salt and when we live as light. If the people all around us are living immorally, dishonestly and complain all the time and we are doing the same, what is the difference? We cannot benefit the world around us if we are like the world around us. We are challenged by Jesus Christ Himself to show a better way. Our mission is to be the light of the world. We have a choice to let our light shine, or hide it under a bowl. We can find many excuses to hide our light. Sometimes we allow fear to hide our light. Sometimes we hide our light because of indifference. Other times we claim we are too busy. If you want to shine for the Lord in the darkness, you must keep yourself in the light. Stay close to Him. In a really dark place, a little light can make a big difference. Live you life letting your light shine for Him. 

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16 

You are not called to be glorious chandeliers, you are called to be the light. God will decide in His infinite wisdom if you will be a big flood light, a nightlight or somewhere in between. God has called you to be a city on hill, the light of the world, the salt of the earth. He has given you this opportunity. Just open up your heart and let the real Son shine in and commit to not hide that light under a bushel, but shine, shine, shine.