You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. —Matthew 5:14
This verse is popular, especially for use in hymns and Christian music. However, many people don’t fully understand its meaning. The metaphor of light versus darkness crops up often in Scripture to portray Christ’s goodness and leadership. If Christ is our light shining through the darkness, and He made us in His image, isn’t it logical that we should be a light for others? Today’s verse is an important metaphor for our purpose here on Earth. We must strive to be like the “town built on a hill”—shining brightly for all to see. If we don’t hide our light, but make it so clear and resplendent as not to be missed, we fulfill God’s wishes. In times of trouble, you may not feel like the light of the world. But to God, we are each beacons with the power to shed light on dark places. Christ refers to us as enlightening in contrast to sin, darkness and ignorance. Sin’s corruptive power can’t overtake a light that twinkles merrily on a hillside, but it can corrupt those who hide their lights. He doesn’t refer to us as the light of the Earth for a reason—our light goes beyond the limitations of this Earth and into the realm of the entire solar system. God’s faith in us is that great. Never forget that you are the light of the world. Remind yourself of this truth by listing 10 positive things about yourself today. It’s easy to hide your light and believe falsehoods about yourself. It’s not as easy to embrace your good qualities and see yourself through Christ’s eyes: a town that can’t be hidden.
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