Daily Scripture: Matthew 5:14 “You are light for the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Likewise, when people light a lamp, they don’t cover it with a bowl but put it on a lampstand, so that it shines for everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they may see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.
Reflection Questions:
Jesus described the life-changing impact of God’s Kingdom by saying the Kingdom’s citizens are “the light of the world.” Even a small light emits a pool of light in the darkness much bigger than the light itself. God wants us to be people through whom God’s light illuminates every dark and hurting place around us.
- Jesus said a faith-filled life is like lamp in a dark home, or a city on a hill, seen for miles around. As people see who and what you are, do they also see Jesus and his qualities and values? Jesus said we are to let our light shine for a specific purpose—so that people who see what we do will praise God. How can you live your life in a way that directs attention and praise to God more than to you?
- Who has been a light in your world? Think of those who have particularly brightened your life with the light of God’s love. Where you can, thank them for that this week. Who do you know whose world you have an opportunity to brighten? Pray about this, and choose one specific step you can take to be a light to that person (or persons) this week.
Today’s Prayer:
Lord Jesus, you are not a secret to be kept. Shine your light of love through me, this day and every day, and use me to make the world you love a bit more like the kingdom of heaven. Amen.Insights from Kaevan Tavakolinia
Lord Jesus, you are not a secret to be kept. Shine your light of love through me, this day and every day, and use me to make the world you love a bit more like the kingdom of heaven. Amen.Insights from Kaevan Tavakolinia
Kaevan Tavakolinia is glad to be a 2015 summer intern with RezLife, coordinating middle and high school mission trips and events. He is also on staff at Resurrection Downtown Kids COR. In his spare time he coordinates theater events for Resurrection, serves on prayer team, is an active musician performing in Kansas City, records music, and lends his time to Worship Team at Resurrection Downtown. He will be pursuing his degree in Social Welfare at KU Edwards in the Spring of 2016.
Digging into this passage, I feel a real sense of God’s wisdom and love towards us through the words of Jesus. I regard this verse, and the operant phrase, “light of the world” with a level of respect and acknowledgment for the way in which our Lord “parents” us, as well as his expectations of us. I have begun to understand that the reassurance and justification that comes with Christ has been the gift that God has desired to share with us since the beginning. This is an instance of our Divine Creator speaking to us in the most personal and empathetic of ways, through our savior Jesus Christ. Through Christ’s entrance into our lives, God made a real stand for us as a loving creator.
As I read this passage I can’t help but picture a loving and reassuring arm around a doubtful or wanting shoulder. The preceding verses include more of Jesus expounding about who we are as God’s children. “Happy are people who are humble, because they will inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5) “Happy are people who make peace, because they will be called God’s children.” (Matthew 5:9) These statements are made to remind us who we are called to be, but I believe also to serve as a reminder of God’s desire to live happily in our hearts.
Although life absolutely presents us with (growing) pains and (necessary) trials, God calls us to ultimately live into the JOY that is the path of loving grace. As the light of the world, we are called to not only acknowledge but act upon the powerful gifts of God’s love and grace. We aren’t to be complacent nor at ease in our faith, but rather active, pursuing each and every chance to bring God’s desired healing to the world. We aren’t to hide ourselves nor our inspiration through God under the lampshade of our own plans or desires. We are to be resolute in reflecting God’s light like a city on the hill, shining lovingly and brightly for those around to see.
I believe in God’s power and ability to craft our universe as well as our destiny. God calls US to reflect HIM. If we are truly crafted as reflections of his love, as the light of the world, then we are responsible for answering the call to shine that light brightly. Not only do we have knowledge through Scripture and the Holy Spirit of the great responsibility God places on us, but we can feel intuitively that we are called to be JOYOUS in the truth of Christ and God’s love for us.
Thank you for the chance to dig into God’s love and to share my feelings about it with you. I pray God finds a way into these words, but even more into your lives and out into this world.
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The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Digging into this passage, I feel a real sense of God’s wisdom and love towards us through the words of Jesus. I regard this verse, and the operant phrase, “light of the world” with a level of respect and acknowledgment for the way in which our Lord “parents” us, as well as his expectations of us. I have begun to understand that the reassurance and justification that comes with Christ has been the gift that God has desired to share with us since the beginning. This is an instance of our Divine Creator speaking to us in the most personal and empathetic of ways, through our savior Jesus Christ. Through Christ’s entrance into our lives, God made a real stand for us as a loving creator.
As I read this passage I can’t help but picture a loving and reassuring arm around a doubtful or wanting shoulder. The preceding verses include more of Jesus expounding about who we are as God’s children. “Happy are people who are humble, because they will inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5) “Happy are people who make peace, because they will be called God’s children.” (Matthew 5:9) These statements are made to remind us who we are called to be, but I believe also to serve as a reminder of God’s desire to live happily in our hearts.
Although life absolutely presents us with (growing) pains and (necessary) trials, God calls us to ultimately live into the JOY that is the path of loving grace. As the light of the world, we are called to not only acknowledge but act upon the powerful gifts of God’s love and grace. We aren’t to be complacent nor at ease in our faith, but rather active, pursuing each and every chance to bring God’s desired healing to the world. We aren’t to hide ourselves nor our inspiration through God under the lampshade of our own plans or desires. We are to be resolute in reflecting God’s light like a city on the hill, shining lovingly and brightly for those around to see.
I believe in God’s power and ability to craft our universe as well as our destiny. God calls US to reflect HIM. If we are truly crafted as reflections of his love, as the light of the world, then we are responsible for answering the call to shine that light brightly. Not only do we have knowledge through Scripture and the Holy Spirit of the great responsibility God places on us, but we can feel intuitively that we are called to be JOYOUS in the truth of Christ and God’s love for us.
Thank you for the chance to dig into God’s love and to share my feelings about it with you. I pray God finds a way into these words, but even more into your lives and out into this world.
Download the GPS App
The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection
13720 Roe Avenue
Leawood, Kansas 66224 United States
913.897.0120
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