Today’s Reading:
Matthew. 5:14-16 (Jn. 1:5 AMPV)
"The light shines on in darkness, and the darkness did not understand it or overpower it or appropriate it or absorb it [and is unperceptive to it]. (Jn. 1:5 AMPV)
Light is a force that is able to change foreign environment permanently. It symbolises purity and divine revelation.
Darkness symbolises the presence of evil, where wickedness and all manner of evil abounds. Darkness can never extinguish light, it cannot grasp it nor understood it. Darkness would try to destroy the Light, in the person of Jesus Christ, but it would fail. And the Light of Jesus would successfully bring salvation into the world (Jn. 1:5).
In essence, the attractive quality of the disciples' lives and believers in general, will draw others to live similarly to glorify God (Matt. 5:14; Isa. 2:2-5). Ancient Israel as a nation and Jerusalem its capital were considered as a light to the Gentile nations.
The light that would shine to the world would shine as long as we remain connected to the true light of Jesus Christ. This is why we must stay connected to Jesus Christ before we can successfully evangelize the world or do ministry. As light illuminate to give guidance in darkness, so also believers have to be visible. The Bible does not preach secret discipleship. If we are called to be salt and light of the world, then it follows that our world needs these good qualities. Our world is a place of insipid morality, decay and darkness. Believers are to bring light to the world through witnessing that points to and attracts people of the world to the origin of the Light, which is God the Father. We are invited to reflect the light of Jesus into the darkness around us (Matt. 5:16). We are called to show love in the face of hatred, patience in response to trouble, and grace even in moments of conflict. Because we too were once in darkness and by the mercy and grace of God, we are now the light in Christ Jesus (Eph.5:8). In evangelizing and in all that we do, we should seek the praise of God alone (1Pet. 2:12).
Before we can be light in the dark world around us, we must surrender our lives to the lordship of our Lord Jesus Christ. Have your given your life to Jesus? If you have not, do so today, as tomorrow might be too late.
Olufunmilayo Titilola Adekusibe
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the Light of Jesus in me, that will draw all men to you, in Jesus name.
Father let the blood of Jesus cleanse me inside out; fire of the Holy Ghost sanctify me and make me a channel of your light in the world, in Jesus name.
Father teach me and empower me to witness as the Light of Jesus to the lost, the perishing and the unreached, in Jesus name.
Father, begin your revival in my life, my family and my environment in Jesus name.
Father, uproot everything you have not planted in your church, revive your Pentecostal power and fire, and reposition your church to suit your purpose, in Jesus name.
Father, thank you for sustaining the nation with your mighty presence. Bulldoze and destroy strongholds of wickedness and revive your work. Let there be love, peace, harmony of purpose and progress, in Jesus name. Amen.
Comments