August 26 | Matthew 5:14-16

---

DAILY READING

Matthew 5:14-16

---

REFLECTION

Light of the World? Who Me?

By Pam Mann

“You are the light of the world,” says Jesus... and I squirm.

I don’t like this idea. My immediate comeback is, “No. Jesus, YOU are the light of the world.” I’m thinking that I can stay in the shadows. If Jesus wants people to also be lights in the world, let somebody else (someone who has their life more together than I do) be the light of the world.

I don’t want to be a town set on a hill nor a lamp on a stand, because when I mess up, (and I’m definitely going to mess things up), everyone will see how badly I’ve fouled things up! I do not want this city-set-on-a-hill job.

I figure I’m not alone in wanting to avoid this assignment. Maybe a lot of Jesus’ followers don’t want

their faith walk on display. Then, what do we do

with this clear plan that Jesus puts forth for us? The only people Jesus has to work with in the body of Christ are sinners, like us! So, how does this concept work when the lamps are going to need regular cleaning, fresh oil, and frequent repair?

If you’ve ever had the electricity fail for an extended period, you know Jesus is telling it straight when he says people put the lamp up high. We can understand the metaphor, but what good are unreliable, defective lamps to Jesus?

Wait. He knows we’re going to get some things wrong. We are not going to be perfect high-beam lights that everyone can rely on for consistent godly behavior. We’re going to sometimes let people down and need to ask for forgiveness. We’re going to need God’s forgiveness. We‘re going to need the Spirit’s power and creativity to problem solve. We can’t do this on our own. We need God to lead us, to empower us, to guide us, to forgive us when we get off track.

Hmm. It seems that maybe this humble leaning on God is exactly what Jesus means when he says that we are the light of the world. People will see it all. They will see how a believer is both saint and sinner in one person. Jesus has made us saints. We are his own redeemed people, forgiven and empowered. But we are also sinners, who regularly need to humbly confess our bad attitudes, missteps, and ill-conceived plans. What we do with our need for God in our failing is precisely part of what gives glory to our Father in heaven.

Admitting our sin, confessing our failures, and asking for forgiveness do not seem like shining moments to me. But if Jesus knows we’re all sinners in need of a Savior, then he must have counted on these humbling actions to be part of how human lights in the world would shine.

PRAYER

Okay, Jesus. We’re counting on Your presence and Your power as we join you in kingdom work.  And we’re counting on Your forgiveness in all the times we fall short in doing Your work. You get the glory because the light of the world metaphor is not a reality in us without You!

---

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

PAM MANN

I first joined UALC when my husband (then my fiancé) and I were college students involved in youth ministry. God has used UALC to nurture our family’s faith, even in our years outside the U.S. I’ve participated in UALC ministries with kids, art, prayer, exercise, ESL, and Bible teaching. I do all the fun church things.