Amy Oden, Church of the Resurrection Insights Blog
Matthew 5:14-16 - 14 You are the light of the world. A city on top of a hill can’t be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they put it on top of a lampstand, and it shines on all who are in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before people, so they can see the good things you do and praise your Father who is in heaven.
Jesus says his followers should be salty and lit-up. I love this! At a time when many people hear “Christian” and think dour, self-important people who judge others and live narrow lives, Jesus gives us a very different picture: people with lives so tasty and lit-up that they overflow to bless others. Sounds like a celebration!
So why don’t we live this way? Jesus says we block out our light by covering it up. He uses the image of a basket. I imagine a black-out box covering our light. This keeps us in the dark. Notice that Jesus does not say our light is snuffed out. No, he says our baskets block light because we put them there.
Then let’s pay attention! What are our black-out boxes? Some of us carry the “I’m not really spiritual enough to be considered a good Christian” black-out box and it hides our light. Some of us carry the “I’m right and they’re wrong” basket that hides our light. Some of us carry the “Younger people don’t know everything like I do” basket that covers our light. What is your black-out box? What makes you pick it up and cover your light? Do you have the courage to uncover it?
Resurrection’s Vision 2030 goal #2 to “connect new and younger people and raise a new generation of leaders” is an invitation to take at least two steps. First, take off whatever blocks the light!
Second, call forth the light in new and younger people. Once we let our lights shine, we are more able to see the light shining in others. God has surely planted lights in new and younger people. Our job is not to tell them they are in the dark. Our job is to see and call forth the light God has put in them.
Let your light shine!