Shine

 DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW

SHINE

Matt 5:14-16

14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 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. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

NIV

Once again, these words of Christ have most likely been the basis of many sermons delivered over the ages. Occam’s razor t would seem to apply here in that the fewer assumptions made would then point us to the truest meaning. In researching our scholars of old, they have, which seems appropriate for them, to make multiply assumptions regarding what Jesus was looking or pointing to as he made this statement. What we do know is that Jesus called his audience the light of the world. What we do know is that Jesus meant for our light to shine before men. Any other suggestions or reasons for his making this statement are mere conjectures or assumptions. However, we do know Jesus was making the point that those who decided to follow him, those who have accepted him as Lord and Savior became as He is in the sense we have a light within us, a light showing the way to salvation because we have him within us. We cannot hide it, we cannot keep it to ourselves, we must put it on the lampstand and so everyone who sees us, see the light. There is no confusion about this at all. We are to shine the light of Jesus.