“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

-Jesus, from his “Sermon on the Mount.” (MT. 5:14-16, ESV)

When I was younger, I remember always staying up late, playing video games, getting soda (or beer) from the outside fridge.  I also remember one of those nights experiencing

apprehension,

hesitation,

fear…

just from being in the dark. 

I remember purposely leaving the light off and challenging the dark, like some weird psychic X-Men battle.  I never really won that fight, but I do know I’m significantly less afraid of the dark now.

Matthew 5 always encourages me.  Specifically today, the aspect that we are all children of not light, but the Light, the one true God, Yahweh.  Once we accept Jesus into our lives, he adopts us as sons and daughters of the Heavenly Light, God the Father.

We are each “a city on a hill…lights to the world…salt of the earth.”  We are here to make a difference, to let our lights shine, no matter how dark or dim the light becomes at times, we can always get brighter in this grim world, and Lord knows it needs that light.

My thought today?  Let your light SHINE.  Don’t let it get dimmed by the iPod screen light.  Don’t let your light be overcome by the computer screen light.  Be as bright as God is!  Guide others, protect others, and help others “turn their lights on,” y’know?  As Jesus said, let your own individual lights shine, in your good deeds, in your good thoughts, from the goodness and fountain of love of each of your hearts.

“For you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.  Walk as children of light.”

-Apostle Paul of Tarsus (EPH. 5:8, NASB)

“Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle.”

-Apostle James (JAM. 1:17, MSG)