From Dream to Deliverance
Thursday, September 30, 2004
My Prayer Today
Dear Father, I ask that You would help me to be a light to other people. I thank You for sending Jesus Christ into the world to give us light in the midst of darkness. May the light of Jesus shine through me today so that I might give glory to You. I do not want to let my light be hidden, but I ask that I would shine for You. May my life give illumination to others who are in need of You. I ask this in Jesus' name. . . Amen.
God's Word For Me Today
Matthew 5:13-16
13 "You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make salt useful again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. 14 You are the light of the world -- like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. 15 Don't hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. 16 In the same way, let you good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father."
Reflecting on God’s Word
According to verse 14, what is the image that Jesus offers to describe our Christian witness?
What is the illustration that Jesus uses to reveal how we let others see our light shine?
How is our Christian witness like a "city on a mountain?"
A Deeper Exploration of God’s Word
Is our Christian life meant to be seen or unseen and private? Why?
How can we make our Christian life be seen?
Where does our "light" come from? (Read John 8:12)
Understanding God’s Word
Why does Jesus use the word "night" to describe where the light is seen?
How does the word "night" help to describe the world around us?
Applying God’s Word to Our Lives
Do you consider your Christian life as private? If so, why?
What is one thing that you can do today to let your light shine before all to see?
Is it hard for you to let your light shine? Why or why not?
Thoughts...
A few years ago when I was in Los Angeles, CA I went to a place called the "Griffith Park Observatory." As I stood out on the balcony of this facility, I was able to see what seemed to be hundreds of thousands of lights as I overlooked the city. The twinkling of lights seemed to be everywhere as I stood on the balcony. I could not have missed seeing those lights if I had tried to -- they were everywhere! There is something captivating about light because it allows things to be seen. Light is meant to shine. The same is true with our Christian witness. We as Christians are meant to be seen by the world around us. The brightness of our lives should illuminate the darkness that seems to be so pervasive within our communities and culture.
Jesus says in John 8:12, "I am the light of the world." Because Jesus is the light of the world, He is also the light within us. If we are followers of Jesus Christ, the light that others see within us is Jesus Christ (not us). Jesus is meant to be seen through the way in which we live our lives. If we claim to be Christians, we must be like a city on a hill -- we should be seen. We should not live our Christian life in private. We are the light to our community and world that is so desperately in need of God's amazing love. Today, let the light of Jesus Christ shine through you for all to see. Don't live your Christian life in the dark!