A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW     

YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD  

Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 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. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” 

Jesus begins today’s devotional verses with a direct statement: “You are the light of the world.” He does not say you should be. He says, “you are. . .” Therefore, He continues, in the same way as it is impossible for a town that sits on top of a hill to be hidden from the view of people, so you being a Christian, a follower of Him, your faith in Him should be evident to those among whom you live. 

In fact, in verse 16 the verb tense changes from the indicative tense (describing what has happened and is currently happening) to the imperative. (A direct command) Imperative verbs are always active. The import of this brief grammar lesson is Jesus is giving you who “are” a light of the world” a direct command to shine it into the world. Negatively, He says, don’t hide your light so no one can see it.   

Ephesians 2:10 says, you “. . . are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” God called you to faith in Jesus and placed you in this world as His very own adopted child “to do good works” which radiate your Lord and Savior Jesus to those around you. As they see your good works you are giving glory to God. 

Matthew 5:13-16 is all about the fact that God has placed you into this world to make a difference. You are salt and He expects you to salt! You are light and He expects your works to light the world with His grace and mercy. This you are to do in your daily vocation, whatever that is. Your identity is created and preserved by Jesus’ word.  

Prayer: Dear Jesus, fill me with Your Spirit and Your Word to enable me to radiate out into the world the good news of salvation through You. Grant that my daily vocation be lived out to Your glory and honor. In Your holy name. Amen. 

O Word of God incarnate, O Wisdom from on high,  
O Truth unchanged, unchanging, O Light of our dark sky;  
We praise You for the radiance That from the hallowed page,  
A lantern to our footsteps, Shines on from age to age. 

The Church from You, dear Master, Received the gift divine;  
And still that light is lifted O’er all the earth to shine,  
It is the chart and compass That, all life’s voyage through,  
Mid mists and rocks and quick-sands Still guides, O Christ, to You. 

O make Your Church, dear Savior, A lamp of burnished gold  
To bear before the nations Your true light as of old!  
O teach Your wand’ring pilgrims By this their path to trace  
Till, clouds and darkness ended, They see You face to face!  (LSB 523)