Matthew 5:14
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

Light dispels darkness. Light cuts through the obscurity and makes its presence known. Sorry for the double negative, but light cannot not be light. Its property defines its existence.

Jesus says to all believers, “You are the light of the world.” Notice Jesus does not say, “You should be the light” or “You will become the light.” Jesus clearly says, “You are the light.” Jesus, the Light of the world, lives in us and shines through us. He is the one who makes us shine.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer says, “…Since you are that light, you can no longer remain hidden, even if you want to. It is the property of light to shine. A city set on a hill cannot be hid; it can be seen for miles away….”[1] It may be time for you to come out of hiding. You are the light of the world. Be a light! Shine bright!

Father, thank you for making us the light of the world through the Light of the world. Help us to shine in a way that honors you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

As we wrap up another year, I want to thank you for engaging in God’s Word with me every day. It is a privilege to have this time with you.  On January 1, we will begin a 31-day devotional series called Standing Firm in Unshakable Faith. With everything going on in our world, we want to stand firm in the confidence we have because of Jesus. Invite a friend or someone in your family to join us so we can stand firm together.  

[1] Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship (Simon and Schuster, 1937), 117.