Our World Needs Light!
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 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. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16 NIV
Our world needs light!
The oppressing darkness of hate, discord, confusion, and fear are overwhelming. Every day we are inundated by the news reports and social media posts that feed the frenzied emotions of harried panicked people who feel like they must respond. They must act. Doing so mostly out of anxious emotion, not calm consideration.
Now, in no way am I saying we should all stand by, say nothing, do nothing, be complacent. But I do feel there is a need to step back and listen. Consider. Contemplate. Pray…
Letting the crowd mentality and alarmist propaganda that is practically forced into our day to day existence decide what our response should be is not wisdom, it’s panic. It’s at times like this that we need to dig deep, discover our inner God given strength letting it be the source of our response.
Rarely does anything go well that is not well thought out and prayed over.
Why is that?
Immediate reactions are often brought about through fear not faith. Similar to fight or flight; it’s our flesh reaction not our faith response.
What's the difference between a reaction and a response?
A reaction is an action induced by vital resistance to another action. In many cases its a first instinct. A response is the activity or inhibition of previous activity of an organism or any of its parts resulting from stimulation. Essentially the difference is time. The ability to inhibit a reaction. Reaction is more immediate and response is more measured. Both imply action but one is given to emotion where the other is given to reason.
Some of the best advice I was ever given was by a former supervisor. She told me not to let myself react, but take time to respond if at all possible. To react out of the emotion of a situation almost always led to wrong decisions, damaged relationships and destroyed reputations. Step back and think it through. Respond wisely.
When we take the time to give careful consideration to what God would have us to do then we are more likely to apply the word of God and respond in a way born of our faith in Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-16 describes how true believers and doers of the word shine the light of Christ into this fallen world. We do so by behaving in such a way that our countenance, our attitudes, our words, our actions and most importantly our love are more like Jesus, the light of the world, shining through us.
We must not let the fear feeding society pull us into its clutches nor let it push us into behaving in such a way as to support the oft pandered image of the judgmental Christian.
As a follower of Jesus, we must love, forgive, comfort, protect and speak truth.
We cannot be the ones throwing the stones!
We must be the ones courageous enough to stand on our faith and move forward with God as our shield and our guide with love and respect.
We must let His light shine. Within us. Through us. Around us.
We must be that town on a hill that cannot be hidden.
We must put our lights on a stand to shine brightly out in the open so that they are sure to be seen and lead the way to peace in unity.
