Be the Light!
You are the Light of the world….. Matthew 5:14
The Sermon on the Mount probably gives us the greatest insight to the message of the Kingdom Jesus preached. It is a revelation of the fulfillment of the Law and the expression of the heart and mind of the Father.
Probably the best place to start adapting ourselves to the nature of the Father is to be very familiar with Jesus’ words and deeds.
The bible tells us that Jesus was the expression image of God. Jesus himself said He who has seen me has seen the Father. He affirmed that it was the Father who did the works, he was simply the vessel showing who the Father was and what His heart is.
Of course, now, we are that very hope of Glory to seen in this earth. I’m reminded of Andrew Murrays words from his book, Like Christ,
“ Let us gaze and gaze again, let us worship and adore; the more we see Him as He is, the liker Him we must become.”
Jesus tells his disciples we are the salt of the earth. We are the light of the world. If we are not salty we are not good for anything and our light is not to be hid. There should be something about our lives that draws men and at the same time repels those who love darkness.
From Mark 13:9, Jesus exhorts disciples to take heed to themselves as they live in the last days. Our lives are to be a testimony in the midst of evil and persecution. God has required a standard on this earth that is able to be set so He can be righteous in His judgment towards all. This standard is to be held and kept by us. We must be light. We must be salt. Anything that diminishes the quality of those must be eliminated from our lives.
The danger of religion is the hypocrisy and deception it breeds. This form of godliness without the power should be a clue that something is missing. Holding traditions and making the power of no effect does not promote the Kingdom of God. Jesus said our righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees and Saduccees.
Jesus said, Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify God. How do we shine? We shine by displaying good works. The world must see we are his disciples. Our good works must be steeped from a heart of love. We are kind, we do good, we love the unlovely, we bless all, and we pray for those who persecute us. There is something pervasive about the life of God flowing through us that man cannot deny. Every act is a seed sown and that is simply our job. Just be salt, be light, be good, be kind, love everyone, bless all, and pray for them. It is the standard of God.