“You are the light of the world.” – Jesus, to His followers (Matthew 5:14)

 

We may be tempted to think being a light bearer, the light of the world, is all about doing all sorts of grand things. Or, like the random act of kindness movement, doing all sorts of small things to randomly brighten a person’s day. It’s not a bad thing to do. But there is a way to shine even brighter.

 

Light is not only revealed by what it does.

What it does IS what it is.

 

That is the message of James to us. It shines because that is its nature. It doesn’t hide under a bushel and then once in a while jump out to shine. Being the light of the world is to let your everyday character reflect your God-given hope with others. It illuminates darkness by shining truth, love, grace, and peace.

 

James tells us in the fourth chapter that this kind of light submits to God (period). After all, He IS light. Just as two candles, when drawn together become brighter, so our light is brighter when we draw close to God. Our light doesn’t quarrel with others, especially over petty things. It doesn’t consider itself friends with the world’s ways.  Unlike my old flashlight whose lens is scratched and obscures the light, our light seeks to be pure.  That is, we must submit our thoughts, motives, actions, and even our life ambitions  before God and ask Him to make us pure. How otherwise can our light shine clearly when it is dulled by our worldly ways? We are either friends with the world’s ways or friends with God. We can’t have it both ways.

 

Acclaimed researcher George Barna repeatedly finds that the thoughts and ways of many Christians in the United States are not very much different from those of unbelievers. If that is the case with you and me, how can our darkness bring light to others?!

 

James warns us that our life plans are futile, “like mist that vanishes”, if they are not submitted to God. He also reminds us that it is not just the way we live selfish, self-absorbed lives, but the fact that we ignore the needs of others – our sins of omission – that drag us down. Perhaps we just don’t care enough about others who walk this path with us. God will give you the desire if you ask Him to give you eyes that see as He does.

 

BEING the light of the world reveals the nature of God’s love. THIS is the light that shines into the darkness of a twisted world that is filled with darkness. BE the light of the world today by becoming who you were meant to be!

 

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. ” James 4:7-8