(Matthew 5:14) You are the light of the world!

A group of rural, uneducated, and unimpressive disciples crowded around Jesus to hear him softly tell them the deep secrets of God. He was their rabbi, and they thought he possibly could be the Messiah of Israel. Jesus lifted his head, looked into their eyes, and declared, “You are the light of the world!”

What? Who? Us?

Yes, Jesus said, “You are the light of the world!” 

Whenever we read this verse, we respond like these original disciples.

What? Who? Us?

We say, "Jesus, you don’t know what I have done in my past. Jesus, you don’t know how insecure I am. Jesus, I am afraid to talk to other people. Jesus, I am poor. Jesus, I am a nobody.”  

Yes, it is true, we are clay jars full of cracks, but it is through these cracks in our lives that the light of God shines into the darkness around us. We are the light of the world, because Jesus Christ--the eternal light of God--has chosen to dwell within the imperfect—us, the church of cracked clay jars.

I cannot explain it, but I know it is true. People living in darkness only need a little light to find their way out of the black murkiness of this sinful world. And God has decided that this “little light” will shine through us, imperfect vessels.

Remember, the gospel is all about God’s grace, not your perfection. The light of God shines more through our lives when we keep our eyes focused on his perfection and not our imperfections, wouldn’t you agree?

Let your light shine!