A Light on a Hill

You are the light of the world. A city build on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under a bushel basket, but on the lamp stand and it gives light to all in the house. Matthew 5:14-15

Last Fall, I had the opportunity to address the teachers, administration and employees of the School District where I lived. At the superintendent's request, I was privileged to speak. I had the opportunity to speak to those who influence and shape the lives of literally thousands of children and young people and, in doing so, they are helping to form our future.

Speaking to these fine people was an act of obedience for me. I believe that each of us is gifted by God and called to share those gifts with others. Each of us is called, by our Lord, the "light of the world." That means, in part, that we are called to let our light shine into the world for the sake of making a better world. This is simply giving back from what we have already received.

Unfortunately, there are some who devalue the gifts they have been given. Jesus knew that. That's why in this great Sermon on the Mount, he speaks to us saying,  one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket... " In effect, he is telling us not to under estimate the light of faith and hope we have been given. Rather, trusting the Giver of the light, we are to let it shine.

The interesting thing about this text is that there are no reservations. The Savior doesn't say,  of you are the light of the world." Nor does Jesus say,  of you will shine brighter than others." There are no reservations in his description of each one of us as  of the world"!

There is a heavenly optimism in the Savior. He trusts that each of us will both discover the light within us and then let it shine in the world for the sake of others. After all, lights do not shine for themselves. The function of a lamp is to illumine the darkness for the sake of those who need to see. If you have ever been in a situation where it was totally dark, like I have, you know the gift of a flashlight or the quick illumination of a light with the flip of a switch. You are called to be that light into the darkness, just as I am.
 
So, when was the last time you gave back to the community and understood it as an act of faith? When was the last time you shared with your neighbors or co-workers a word of hope or care as a  of the world?" On the other hand, when did you shrink back from serving because you were certain that someone else had more to give or could do it better? When did you hold back that word of comfort or act of care because you didn't think it would be significant enough? Such withholding denies the remarkable confidence God has in you!

Heavenly father, grant me the confidence to trust the gifts you have given me by sharing them with others. Amen.