You are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Matt. 5:14-16)

Recently, I have been thinking,  “What makes me a Christian?”  Yes, I know to become a Christian I need to realize I am a sinner, turn from that sin and accept our God’s free gift of eternal life through Him.  But, after that, what shows other people that I am a Christ-follower?  What shows people that I am different from the world?  Matthew 5 talks about different kind of lights.  I am one of those lights that Matthew talks about that is hidden under a bowl?  Do I go to church and then go home and hide in my house without anyone seeing any of Jesus light in me?    I don’t want to be like that.  I want to be like the city on a hill that cannot be hidden!!  However, in order to share about Jesus to others, my job is to spend time … A LOT of time getting to know Him.  

It’s like a dating couple.  They spend time … usually A LOT of time … getting to know one another and as they get to know each other they grow in love for each other and begin to tell others about who they are dating.  If their relationship develops and they get engaged there is such a glow about them and when you ask about their fiancé they just bubble over with words about their future spouse.

Are we so in love with Jesus that we just overflow with words about Him to others?  This has been my prayer recently.  A few years ago I read an autobiography by Bill Bright.  In that book he shared that each day he prayed a prayer asking the Lord to use him.  He said,

We cannot be a light that brings any kind of glory to the Lord without Him working in and through us to make us shine.  Let’s ask Him today to help us be like that city on a hill that CANNOT be hid.  May we be lights for His glory!

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“As Pharaoh and his army approached, the people of Israel could see them in the distance, marching toward them. The people began to panic, and they cried out to the LORD for help.  Then they turned against Moses and complained, “Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? Why did you make us leave?  Didn’t we tell you to leave us alone while we were still in Egypt? Our Egyptian slavery was far better than dying out here in the wilderness!” But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand where you are and watch the LORD rescue you. The Egyptians that you see today will never be seen again.  The LORD himself will fight for you. You won’t have to lift a finger in your defense!”  Exodus 14:10-14 (NLT)

I find that I am often like the Israelites. In the passage above Pharaoh’s army was coming at them on one side and the Red Sea was on the other.  Like the Israelites, I panic when I feel like circumstances are coming at me from all sides.  I complain to the Lord and wonder what in the world He was thinking when He led me into a situation.  Can you relate?  Bills pile up with not enough money to pay.  People pulling at you from all sides and you have no strength to help them all.  Maybe it is just one very difficult person that is draining you.  Have you suffered loss and feel overwhelmed by grief? Let’s take comfort and encouragement from the end of the passage that our Lord Jesus will fight for us and rescue us from the waves that threaten to wash over us.  Maybe He will not remove us from our situations but will choose to walk though our situations with us and provide all we need in the midst of them.  Praise the Lord for his power and presence!

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