The darkest days of this winter are now behind us. It’s getting lighter and lighter, and that’s why I thought it would be a perfect time to study what the Bible has to say about light. Jesus tells us in His Word that He is the Light of the world, but He tells us something else too; that you and I are the light of the world as well. Wow. It’s kind of crazy inspiring, isn’t it? And it’s why I’m thankful Jesus loves to paint pictures.
So, join me in Matthew chapter five, beginning in verse 14, and let’s see what He means when He says, you and I are the light of the world.
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Transcription:
The darkest days of this winter are now behind us. It’s getting lighter and lighter, and that’s why I thought it would be a perfect time to study what the Bible has to say about light. So, welcome to the Bible for Busy People. I’m Erica. Jesus tells us in his word that he is the light of the world, but he tells us something else too; that you and I are the light of the world as well. Wow. It’s kind of crazy inspiring, isn’t it? And it’s why I’m thankful Jesus loves to paint pictures. So, join me in Matthew chapter five, beginning in verse 14, and let’s see what he means when he says, you and I are the light of the world.
You are the light of the world, like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 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. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
You know what I’m picturing right now? A stormy sea and there’s a boat in trouble. The sailors are panicking. The waves are high, the storm is threatening their lives, and suddenly one of the sailors sees something out of the corner of his eye. It’s a little bit of light, and he goes, could it be? And then the light gets brighter and they get closer and they see the lighthouse and they know which way to steer the boat. Imagine how that sailor’s heart goes from being terrified to being hopeful. You and I are that lighthouse. The sailors are the people in the world who are looking for God. They’re looking for hope. They’re looking for the Jesus in us. So, how do you and I shine on the daily? What does that look like? Well, I think the best way you and I can become more like Jesus is to study him to look at how he lived his life every day. So, join me in the gospel of John. We’re going to be in chapter nine, picking it up in verse one.
As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. Rabbi, his disciples asked him, why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins? It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins. Jesus answered. This happened so the power of God could be seen in him. We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us the night is coming and no one can work. But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world. Then he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes. He told him, go wash yourself in the pool of siloam. Siloam means sent. So, the man went and washed and came back seeing.
Can we just pause there for a moment? He went and washed and came back seeing. oh, that’s wonderful.
His neighbors and others who knew him as a blind beggar asked each other, Isn’t this the man who used to sit and beg? Some said he was and others said, no, he just looks like him. But the beggar kept saying, yes, I am the same one. They asked, who healed you? What happened? He told them, the man they called Jesus made mud and spread it over my eyes and told me, go to the pool of siloam and wash yourself. So I went and washed, and now I can see.
Wow, I’ve been taking notes in my mind as we’ve been reading this story together. Do you notice that Jesus took advantage of an opportunity? They’re on this walk, he and his students, and they ask him a question, why was this man born blind? And Jesus takes the opportunity to answer the question, and it’s a powerful answer he gives. This happened so the power of God could be seen in him. And then now at the beginning of the story, we read that they were walking along. Surely they were walking somewhere and here’s an interruption. But Jesus sees the opportunity to teach his disciple something very valuable and he sees the opportunity to heal a man. To change his life forever. He says, this happened so the power of God could be seen in him. Okay, I love what CS Lewis says, the author of the Chronicles of Narnia, don’t shine so others can see you. Shine so that through you others can see him.
Jesus was always pointing back to his father, always giving his father the glory. And that’s our example. So, how can you and I be the light of the world as Jesus says, we are? Okay, we can look for opportunities If people have questions in their heart, let’s be ready with an answer from the word or with a listening ear. Let’s be ready to be willing to be interrupted. I think that’s the hardest thing sometimes, but to me that’s the most beautiful way to shine, to give people the gift of your attention, of staying in the present with them. When someone has a question or someone needs a listening ear, that’s a way for you and I to shine. How can you and I give somebody hope? Jesus brought hope to this man, and he used what was in front of him. Mud and saliva. What can you and I use a around us?
Maybe it’s our resources. Maybe it’s our time, maybe it’s our love. What can we do to shine today? I think opportunities are all around us. So, what do you say? You and I be on the lookout for those. Alright, next time you and I are going to meet a woman who is about to be sentenced to death. And then Jesus showed up. The light of the world came just in time to illuminate the darkest moment of her life. Alright, until next time, remember, shine and you are loved.
Thank you so much for listening to the Bible for Busy People. If you need prayer or you’re ready to go a little deeper in your faith, we’ve posted some resources for you in our show notes. We’d love for you to share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review. It helps us reach even more people with the hope of Jesus. This podcast is part of Purposely, a podcast network designed with practical podcasts to help you find and live in God’s purpose for your life.
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