Words of Jesus – You Are the Light of the World | Burning Fire Shut Up In My Bones

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16 NLT).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qt6Vw9_X1AI

I love this scripture! It made me think of the old Newsboys song, Shine and you know I just had to post that! 🙂

Don’t you just love the Lord and His word? Just think about what He’s saying here. The Light of the world is telling us that we are the light of the world! How about that? Did you ever think of it that way before? I’ve read this Scripture many times, but tonight, He just spoke that to my heart… The Light calls us the light…

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So you should not be like cowering, fearful slaves. You should behave instead like God’s very own children, adopted into His family — calling Him “Father, dear Father.” For His Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us that we are God’s children. And since we are His children, we will share His treasures — for everything God gives to His Son, Christ, is ours, too. But if we are to share His glory, we must also share His suffering (Romans 8:14-17 NLT).

So, since I’m a light, what should I do? I know! I should do what the Light does, right? So let me see… Life itself was in Him, and this life gives light to everyone. The Light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it (John 1:4-5 NLT)… “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16 NLT)… Jesus said to the people, “I am the Light of the world. If you follow Me, you won’t be stumbling through the darkness, because you will have the Light that leads to life” (John 8:12 NLT).

Ok – Jesus, the Light, shines in the darkness… He went to dark places and the darkness can never extinguish His light! So if the Light goes to dark places and shines, then you and I, the lights, must go into dark places and shine! And praise God! He gives us instruction in case we don’t know how to shine… All we have to do is follow Him! If we follow Him, we wont be stumbling through the darkness because we will have the Light – His Light – that leads to life.

Do you see? When we follow Him, His light shines through us, and we are able to go to the dark places, as we follow Jesus, and we will shine. Isn’t that awesome?

But we’ve got to be wise. Not everyone is going to welcome the Light… “There is no judgment awaiting those who trust Him. But those who do not trust Him have already been judged for not believing in the only Son of God. Their judgment is based on this fact: The Light from heaven came into the world, but they loved the darkness more than the Light, for their actions were evil. They hate the Light because they want to sin in the darkness. They stay away from the Light for fear their sins will be exposed and they will be punished. But those who do what is right come to the Light gladly, so everyone can see that they are doing what God wants” (John 3:18-21 NLT).

Don’t think there’s something wrong with you or with the message the Lord has given you when people reject you, because they don’t want their sins exposed. Don’t be surprised if people get angry with you, if they hate you, if they plot against you and even if they violently attack you. Don’t hide your light because of this.

Brothers and sisters, we have to shine, not for our own glory, but for the glory of the Lord! We mustn’t shine so people will pat us on the back and tell us what good people we are. No! We must let His light shine through us so that people will give glory to God!