MATTHEW 5 V 14/16

You are the light of the world like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, instead it is put 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 can praise your heavenly Father.

 When someone begins a new place of work, or puts their hand to a new venture, it is always a help when someone else gives advice. It may be a welcome offer, when you get told to just copy them and do what they do.

 As we look at this parable, we find Jesus telling to the individual Christian to be like what He claims to be.  He said, as long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. When Jesus commanded His followers to be the lights of the world, He expected nothing less than Himself.

 The Jews would have understood Him, for they spoke of Jerusalem as being a light to the Gentiles. A well-known Rabbi was often called a ;amp of Israel. The way the Jews used this term will help us to know the way in which Jesus used it.  The Jews were confident no one lit their own light.

 Jerusalem was a light to the Gentiles, but God lit Israel’s light.  The light which a nation or man of God shone, was a borrowed one, and it must be so with the Christian. It is not the demand of Jesus we should as it were, produce our own light.  We must shine with the reflection of His light. The radiance, which may come from a Christian, is lit by the presence of Christ in a Christian’s heart..

A light is first and foremost something to be seen.  The houses in Palestine were dark, for the rooms had small circular windows sometimes only eighteen inches wide. The light would be like a sauce dish, filled with oil and a floating wick. In those days they did not have matches, so care had to be made to be used carefully.  The lamp would be put on a stand, and when the house was empty there was a safety risk, so the light was taken from the stand and placed under a bushel so it would stay safely until the people returned.

 Christianity must be seen, no secret hiding place. A person should not be embarrassed or ashamed of the faith, and must not be left at the Church door or just for Sunday.  It is hard for a lot of men, especially for those of gentle nature. For men are not as dominant in Churches, some look quite disorientated, and there is a  fear of being mocked by other men. Yet men in Muslim Churches are quite ready to be seen as members and are ready to defend and speak up for it. Christianity is not an exclusive ‘women’s religion however much they may grace it.  Our faith should be found on the factory floor, schools, wherever people are.

 A light is a guide, a warning, a help, the world needs guiding lights, which can be seen.  The Christian needs to be seen, as the command of Jesus which opened this passage. Our light should shine for all people to see, and when we perform deeds we can be noticed, so that we may glorify our heavenly Father in heaven.