You are the light
You are the Light of the World! I think this phrase is so inspiring and encouraging. I get to be the light of the World? Can I make a difference? The wonderful thing is that is the truth! We can make a difference. But how can we make a difference in this World if we look just like it? How can we be the light if we are so comfortable hanging out in darkness?
Jesus makes this statement after he goes through a message we call the beatitudes. The thing about the beatitudes is that it was and is today contrary to the ways of the current culture. Jesus talked about thirsting for righteousness, humility, mercy, and even sorrow over sin! Things that the World today doesn't value. Jesus lays out the lifestyle we should live and then says...YOU ARE THE LIGHT. We can stand out in darkness when we live a life that mirrors Jesus. A life of righteousness, mercy, forgiveness, repentance, a Godly life.
How can we live a Godly life? What can we do to be more like Jesus? We must surrender our life and follow Him. Lay down everything and pick up our cross. But we can not accomplish this out of our strength. It is impossible to live like Jesus without Jesus. Sure, we can look like we live right on our social media accounts, but what does your life look like in private? Are we like Jesus, or is that just what we display for the World to see? We can trick the World, but we cannot fool God. If I want to live like Jesus, I must live with Jesus!
My concern is that while trying to stand out in our World, we pursue INFLUENCE over others rather than INTIMACY with Jesus. Even if you get the followers, you have the position, or you have the World's attention, what would you do with it? If you don't know Jesus and you aren't walking in the power of the Holy Spirit, then what do you have to offer those you influence?
IF we truly want to stand out, we must know Jesus. When we know Jesus, we know His heart, and His heart leads us to make a difference for His glory, not our own. We must protect our walk with the Lord. We need to care more about what He says than what the World says. The truth is the more we start living like Jesus; the more people will hate you. People who are comfortable in darkness will not accept or welcome a bright light. The World hated Jesus; why would they love us? We all want to stand out, but standing out might cost you more than you think. You might lose everything! But if you still have Jesus, you have more than enough.
You are the light of the World! Don't be afraid, don't be timid, don't be discouraged. If you walk with Jesus, you will make a difference; you will stand out.