Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

We’re closing the week with the charge to live out the light within us.

Jesus said in today’s scripture, Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT)…
[14] “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. [15] No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. [16] In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Consider…
Many of us know today’s verses well, but I want to focus on Jesus’ statement in verse 15…
No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket.

I’ve shared before that we’re blessed to be a blessing. Well today, the Light of the world said, we’re lit to shine for all to see.

In fact Jesus also said in Luke 11:36 (NLT)…
[36] If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light.”

That means if we have the Light of Christ filling us, we should be radiant around others who encounter us.

That reminds me of Exodus 34:29-30 (NLT) which shares…
[29] When Moses came down Mount Sinai carrying the two stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, he wasn’t aware that his face had become radiant because he had spoken to the Lord. [30] So when Aaron and the people of Israel saw the radiance of Moses’ face, they were afraid to come near him.

That’s such a great illustration of how our countenance should be radiant to others after spending time with God.

Moses not knowing, hit play on the late great Walter Hawkins song that asks…

What is this
That I feel deep inside
That keeps setting my soul afire
Whatever it is
Whatever it is
Whatever it is
It won’t let me
Hold my peace

What is this
That makes people say I’m mad and strange
What is this
That makes me want to run on in Jesus’ name
Whatever it is
Whatever it is
Whatever it is
It won’t let me
Hold my peace

It makes me love all my enemies
And it makesp me love my friends
And it won’t let me be ashamed
To tell the world that I’ve been born again

OOOOH! What is this!

What is this
That makes me do right when I would do wrong
What is this
When I’m down low, it gives me a song
Whatever it is
Whatever it is
Whatever it is
It won’t let me
Hold my peace

It makes me love all my enemies
And it makes me love my friends
And it won’t let me be ashamed
To tell the world that I’ve been born again

OOOOH! What is this!

Like Moses, we may not be aware or understand what’s different about us after being lit by Jesus, but we should become radiant like a floodlight shining through us.

That reminds me of Paul’s testimony in 2 Corinthians 4:7 (NLT)…
[7] We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

God shines in us to shine through us, so that others can see His Light that leads to eternal life.

There’s another charge we must obey about living ‘in light of Christ’, it comes from Ephesians 5:6-11 (NLT), and admonishes…
[6] Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. [7] Don’t participate in the things these people do. [8] For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! [9] For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. [10] Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. [11] Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.

Pay attention to Paul’s simple and transparent statement…
but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!

If you have the Light in you, then let Him live through.

The Apostle John adds in 1 John 1:5-7 (NLT)…
[5] This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. [6] So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. [7] But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

You see God lights us to shine for and with others.

The image the Holy Spirit just gave me to close with is a candlelight vigil, where in the dark of night like minded people gather to reflect and inspire hope and healing.

That’s what God desires His church, His candlelight vigil that inspires the hope and healing hat comes from Him.

People may not see Jesus like the witnesses on earth during lifetime. In fact John 12:35 (NLT) says…
[35] Jesus replied, “My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going.

But, that’s why Jesus tells us that we’re lit to shine and show others the way to our Heavenly Father through Him.

Bonus thought, the Holy Spirit showed me, God does the lighting, He just wants us to shine radiantly for Him.

Today’s song is…
This Little Light Of Mine

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)