Light Day 26: Matthew 5:11-16

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

After harvest, a farmer stored his potatoes in the darkest corner of his basement. A few weeks later, he noticed that they had begun to sprout. Puzzled, he examined the cellar more closely. 

A copper kettle hanging near the tiny cellar window had caught the sun’s rays and reflected them onto the potatoes, providing them with enough light to germinate.      

No matter what circumstances in life surround us, our Father desires us to reflect the light of the Son to those in the darkest corners of the earth. Jesus is speaking in this passage of identity – who you are: you are the light of the world. While perhaps you may not feel like you are in the position of a “moon” that reflects Christ’s light to a large portion of the world at once, anyone can be a “copper kettle” that reflects the Son to those nearest to him. In pondering Christ’s command to “Let your light so shine before men…” three aspects of shining His light are revealed.

The Means By Which We Shine

The light and life of Christ within us are the means by which we allow our light to shine. As we’ve seen, Christ Himself is the source of all light.

In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not…That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. (John 1:4-5, 9)

By the coming of Christ, God caused His light to shine in our hearts (II Corinthians 4:6). Through the light of life in Christ, we can reflect Christ to others as a witness for His glory.

The Methods By Which We Shine

The methods by which we reflect His light are outlined in His Word. Scripture records:

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light. (Ephesians 5:8)

This includes abiding in His light, greeting others in the name of Christ with His joy, and allowing Him to live His life through us. However, the clearest reflection of His light occurs as we love the LORD with our whole heart. 

Let them that love him be as the sun which goeth forth in his might. (Judges 5:31)

When the love of Christ is shed abroad in our heart, we become a powerful testimony to others.

The Results of Shining

As we let our light shine before men, the most crucial result is the glorification of our Father in heaven. Since Christ is light, any light that others perceive in us ultimately brings honor to Him.

Second, others become attracted to the light of Christ and are motivated to possess His light for themselves.

Third, allowing our light to shine brings wonderful joy to our lives as we reflect Christ to others.

What circumstances has God placed you in? Where are you in relation to the Son? How brightly is His light shining in your heart? Are you reflecting His light to others? Even if you do not think that you possess a large influence, shine for Christ anyway. He will be glorified whether or not others are impacted by your light, and you will be blessed with joy in His brightness! Shine your light brightly today – there may be some potatoes in an unseen dark corner that will receive power for glorious new life and growth through your reflection of Christ!