light (matt 5:14-16)

Matthew 5:14-16

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

The world is in darkness and needs to see the light of God's self-revelation, culminating in Jesus. God's plan for that to happen is for the church to be salt and light in the world. Jesus is the true light. he is the sun, we are the moon, reflecting his light, but the moon still stands out in the darkness. Christianity is not designed to be a private faith- the church is to be a city on a hill, a lamp on a stand. Standing out as different and proclaiming the gospel so that the result is that some will glorify God. Is your christian community visible to others? Do others see the reflected light of Jesus, or are we ignoring the maker's instructions and putting the light under a basket because it feels a bit safer?