Struggle & Triumph | Who God Says I AmSample

I Am a Light in the World

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:14

Darkness is not the opposite of light; it is the absence of light.

In John’s first letter he tells us that God IS light, and in Him there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). Light reveals, exposes, guides and brings life. Darkness comes from sin and from hiding. 

God’s light invaded our world through Jesus, “but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19). In John 8:12 Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” Because Jesus lives within us, His light shines through us. 

Jesus said we are the light of the world because His Spirit lives within us. The light in us shines when we walk in step with His Spirit. He is our power source in the same way that batteries power a flashlight. 

By asking the Spirit of Jesus to direct our steps, we turn on the power of the light. Every choice to trust that Jesus’ way is best, played out through obeying Him, is a choice to turn on the power of the light.

His light shines when we refuse to speak evil of a referee whose call we don’t agree with, when we choose not to play dirty to win, when we make plays that help someone else shine instead of hogging the limelight ourselves. 

When we live like Jesus, it’s obvious in a dark world. 

Jesus chose to return to heaven and to leave His light in us so that a watching world can’t help but see Him through us. Light can be powerful and healing, warm and inviting. People are drawn to light. Jesus said we are like a city on a hill, shining like a beacon, showing the way to the Source. 

Application: Light is good! Having the Spirit of the risen Savior living in us floods our lives and makes them shine. When we live in connection to the power source of the Holy Spirit, our lives start to gleam like Jesus, and people around us can see Him.