Shine On!

¹⁴ You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ People do not light a lamp and put it under a basket but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16

 

  When I read this passage as a young(er) person, my first thought was, and I kid you not, "What kind of idiot would WANT to put a lamp under a basket?".  Later on, when I had more sense and learning stuffed into my brain, I realized that Jesus is not teaching us about fire safety, but about how we should live.

 In verse 14, Jesus calls us "the light of the world" because, as believers, we should be as different as light and dark. And just as you cannot hide a city on a hill, our "differentness" also cannot be hidden.  Let's face it, if we hide our "light" how will anyone know that we are different.

I really must bring out a couple of thoughts to be pondered:

FIRST, the lamp never has to make a sound to draw attention to itself.  It doesn't have to announce itself.

SECOND, the lamp simply serves others by being different than the darkness.

THIRD, others notice the lamp because of the quiet service it provides.

Consider that.