Matthew 5:13-16
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled on by men.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
Ephesians 5:6-10
6 Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for because of these things God’s wrath is coming on the disobedient. 7 Therefore, do not become their partners. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light – 9 for the fruit of the light results in all goodness, righteousness, and truth – 10 discerning what is pleasing to the Lord.
Related Text:
Proverbs 13:9
Mark 9:50
Luke 14:34-35
1 Peter 4:12-19
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Think on It
DON’T HIDE IT! DON’T HIDE THE LIGHT!
The world is filled with darkness and God needs you to be a bright shining light for Him. Let your life shine!
This is simply a message of encouragement! Matthew 5:14-16 gives us some great instruction. “You are the light of the world. A city 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 men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
Ok, flat out, words straight from Jesus, He tells us to live our lives shining brightly for Him. Think of the “light” as the Gospel, the truth that Jesus is God’s son, the truth that He died to take away our sins, and that He rose to life 3 days later. The “light” is the truth that Jesus is the only way into Heaven, the only way into a reconciled relationship with God, the only way to have forgiveness of our sins. Also, the “light” refers to Jesus Himself. In John 8:12 and in John 9:5, Jesus says that He is the light of the world.
So Jesus calls himself the light of the world and also calls His followers the light of the world. Hmmm?!?! The best way I can explain this is by going to God’s Word. Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” So, since we are believers in Jesus, we have died to sin and our old selves. So to sum up, Jesus is the light, He lives in us, and that makes us the light too. The only way we are the light is because of Jesus.
You are the light of the world. Great! Now shine brightly, position yourself to light up as many places as possible. Don’t hide under a bowl, get up on a stand, move to the city on the tallest hill, let your light shine so everyone can see it. If a city on a hill cannot be hidden, then that is the best place to set up residence. The idea of this shirt to “Reside in the City” simply means to get out there in the best possible way that you can and share Jesus. Share the light that He has given you. Share the truth that Jesus is Lord; that He died for the sins of the world, and that salvation is through Him alone.
I encourage you to use these passages from God’s Word as a resource in your daily life. Don’t let this truth just rest on this tag or on this shirt. Use it! Let it become a part of you, let the scripture be written on your heart and move you to live your life in obedience to God out of love. Dive into God’s Word, spend time with Him in prayer, connect with other believers, live for Jesus who died for your sins and rose again!
