Product of Light

Sunday 24 December
READ: Matt. 5:14-16 
MORE LESSON:  Lk. 10:30-36

It is a common saying that light is good. The world is unimaginable without light. Light heralds the day, assists in rain formation, assists in biological processes of plant and animal life, it is convertible (solar power) for domestic and industrial use. The generated light is significant in our daily life.
In our text today, Jesus the light of men declared that His children are the light of the world. Salt sweetens and preserves. Therefore, children of God are the salt of the earth also. We are the joy and hope of the world to bring men back to God. Where there is light, it dominates. As the Lord shines His light in our lives, we shine it to the world to show the light of life.

Christ is the light of the Church and the Church is the light of the world. The problem with believers is that we tend to hide our light. That should not be the case. Naturally, darkness bows to light and anywhere light is, there is life. The question then is, “How do we show forth the light in us?”
1. Point men and women to God for salvation.
2. Stand against ungodliness and injustice.
3. Live in obedience to the Word of God.
4. Don't compromise your faith.
5. Speak out against evil.

And above all, in word and deed, let God be glorified. We must desire like the song writer, “Lord I want to be like Jesus inner my heart”; “Lord, I want to be more holy inner my heart”; “Lord I want to be a Christian inner my heart”. Believers must arise and shine! We must take the light of Jesus to the market place by what we do more than by what we say. The world will see Jesus more in us by our work than by our speaking in tongues. The New Living Translation puts it this way, ...let your good deeds shine out for all to see...: Matt. 5:16 (NLT). Like Jesus in Acts 10:38, the anointing upon Him made Him to do ...good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil...(NLT).

Feeding the hungry, providing for the poor, strengthening the weak, clothing the naked, caring for the orphan and widow are ways that we the light are called to shine. Jesus did it that way, the apostles followed suit, it must not stop with us. Preaching salvation begins with the forgiveness and cleansing of sins but does not stop there. The Church and her people must preach the compassionate, caring Jesus both within and without the assembly. Shine the light by your work.

Prayer/Action
* Ask the Lord Jesus to help you to be more like Him as a shining light, in Jesus’ name.
* Pray that the light of Jesus will shine to the unsaved world through you, in Jesus’ name.
* Pray that your life will shine for the world to see, in the mighty name of Jesus.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Jesus, if Your pregnancy could not be aborted, and King Herod could not stop Your birth, connected to Your loins, my destiny, even if delayed, can never be stopped; I rest my case, in the mighty name of Jesus.