“[I] am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 8:12
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16
Jesus tells us that WE are the light of the world! (or rather, I think it’s more accurate to say that the Jesus IN us continues to be the light of the world and we have become its vessel). The four qualities of light (conspicuous, compelling, consistent, and consuming) mentioned last week are qualities that are to be present in the life of a believer. My question to myself is, if I am the light of the world, can it be clearly seen? Am I conspicuous because of my faith? Are people compelled to me because they see something different in me because of Jesus that they aren’t used to experiencing from others in the world? I am consistent and dependable to those around me? Are my YESes good, and when people encounter me do they know what they’re generally going to get because I’m stable and secure in my Christ-identity? When bad junk walks into the room (negativity, anxiety, crisis, evil, etc.) do I flee from it or does my peace, joy and love consume it? If these qualities aren’t being clearly seen and demonstrated then there’s an issue!
The light is there, because I have the Holy Spirit of God dwelling within me. So then it must be a “basket” in my life that is covering up the light when it’s not clearly evident. I would suggest it’s the things that are manifested from my flesh that covers over what is meant to be seen and shared with the world. Flesh was designed to cover us in the natural, so it makes sense that it might very well be what covers us from being the light in the supernatural. That’s why Paul tells us in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives within me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God.”
As we continue to die to ourselves and put to death our flesh; that is, our carnality, our wayward desires, our will–we will strip away that which covers us so that His light can be clearly seen through us. As we approach the New Year we have a fresh opportunity to refocus our efforts; out with the old, and in with the new! God, help us to reflect and direct the light within us that is Jesus to the world around us in 2020.