Discipleship - light 2

Continuing our series of Christ's challenge to His disciples to be "salt and light" to their worlds (Matthew 5:13-16.) Two more metaphors are used regarding light: candlestick and a hill.

The disciple is set up on a candlestick, as it were, not hidden. All Christians are light in the Lord as seen in Ephesians 5:8-9: For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth).

And again the disciple of Christ must shine as lights, as observed in Philippians 2:14-16, Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life--

Inconsistent living and un-confessed sin in the life of the Disciple will become a basket-like covering which hides the light of God. God provides the light and it continues to shine, but as believers we must keep our lives clean before the Lord in order not to obscure the light which He has placed within us. The smallest light can dispel the greatest darkness. Therefore, we are challenged to let our light shine through a clean life, a holy life, before the Lord and before the world in which we live. You are the light of the world. As light dispels darkness and enables a man to see his way, so the disciple of Christ, by his teaching and example, removes ignorance and prejudice, and discloses Christ’s way of life (Adapted from Liberty University Bible Commentary)

A question for us as disciples of Christ: is our light a beacon, or a birthday candle, or is it snuffed?

Christ’s challenge continues. A city set on an hill cannot be hid. The church, reflecting the light of Christ, is of necessity a conspicuous body, so that neither its blemishes nor its beauty can be concealed. The light of the Christian is to shine, not ostentatiously, but naturally and non-conspicuously. The disciples of Christ, especially those who are forward and zealous in his service, become remarkable, and are taken notice of as beacons. Some admire them, commend them, rejoice in them, and study to imitate them; others envy them, hate them, censure them, and study to blast them.

"That they may see your good works." The disciple’s light is to shine not only in word but in deed - in works and actions that are so“God permeated” that observers must acknowledge them to be of God. "And glorify your Father who is in heaven." Moreover, it must so shine that it shall not win praise for itself, but for Him who kindled it.

In summary of Matthew 5:13-16, The disciple of Christ:

1. broken of self will, self-sufficiency and self centeredness.

2. Emptied of self to be filled with Christ.

3. Digging deeply into God’s resources to live Christ’s abundant life.

4. The ultimate well being, better than riches, power and fame. Becomes a person of great value to themselves, to God and to people with whom they come in contact. They are like salt that flavors, preserves, heals, melts coldness and stimulates thirst for Godly living. And they become light, dispelling darkness and fear, removing ignorance and prejudice, and illuminating Christ’s way to abundant living.

May your life and mine be salty and illuminating for Jesus Christ!