Title: You Are the Light of the World
Contents
YOU ARE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.--GLORIFY YOUR FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN.
If salt presupposes freshness and decay, light presupposes darkness. It's no wonder the world is dark. Electricity has made the world neither day nor night. In Greece, a beggar philosopher named Diogenes turned on a lamp during the day and went looking for things. This does not mean the darkness of nature, but the darkness of the inner world of man. Due to the development of science/economic abundance, the appearance is cleaner than any other era. But spiritually and morally we are living in an age darker and more gloomy than ever. In the text, Jesus said to us that you are the light of the world. This means that they are saints who receive the light of Jesus and illuminate the dark world just as the moon receives and shines the light of the sun. (Original word) In other words, it is a reflector, not a light emitter. In the Bible, the relationship with God is expressed as light, and the relationship with Satan is expressed as darkness. It is a message to show God through your person and work while you live in the world.
1. The role of light.
Every creature has its own characteristics and a reason for its existence. Salt is salty and the light shines through.
1) Provide standard.
In other words, reveal your identity. In the dark there is no way to know the size and shape of objects. You need light to know. Without the saints who have received the light of God, it is impossible to know the good and the evil of the world. You may not even know what the truth/human life is. Saints should be the standard in the world (ballpoint pen). Only when there is a standard, we can distinguish between large and small. The life of a saint should be the standard for human life. A believer who has received the light of God must become a canon in the world.
2) Light has heat.
If there is no light, it becomes cold. Without the light of the sun, the Earth and the solar system would be a block of ice. And life will neither live nor grow. The light of the sun aids the existence and growth of life with its heat and brightness. We too must be warmed by the energy of love in the world. You must make your life bright with the light of truth.
3) It acts as a sterilizing agent.
Sunlight has the power to kill germs. That's why we often see clothes and household items exposed to the sun in the summer months. Likewise, in the person of faith there is the power to reject/resist sin. People of faith do not compromise with sin. It is not assimilated with sin. And they don't even go into the mountains because they hate sin. Overcome sin. Removes sin. Faith washes away the sins in the heart and cleans up the sins of society.
4) Let it grow and bear fruit.
Plants thrive in strong sunlight. No matter how good the seed is and how fertile the soil is, if there is little light, it will not grow properly or bear fruit. Plants that do not see sunlight appear yellow and powerless and later wither and die. Sunlight makes neighbors healthy. make it strong. Make your neighbors happy. Light does not emit light for the sake of light. It shines light for the sake of neighbors. The fruitful harvest of autumn is the result of the scorching sunlight.
2. Characteristics of light.
Every creature has its own characteristics. Looking at the properties of light
1) Go right.
The light acts right when it acts. Light travels the shortest way as it travels from one place to another. The saints are said to be light. Therefore, the saints must also act righteously and rightly. Light has principles and acts. It's not like you're doing this and then doing it that way. Light advances according to the law of light and exhibits light. The principle of life of the saints must also be consistent. We need to get rid of this kind of behavioral thinking that we call love when we do it ourselves and skadal when others do it.
2) It is incidental.
Light does not shine for its own sake, but for the sake of its neighbors. The lamp also burns itself for the people of the household. When light enters the plant/animal it benefits it. It grows and makes you happy. Light is not always self-centered. There is a principle of being God-centered in the sight of God and serving others in front of others. It has the attributes of unselfish love.
3) It is sacrificial.
The saints receive the light of Jesus and not only reflect it as it is, but they carry the light in their hearts and show the light through sacrificial labor. In the text, it is called light and it is called lamp. A lamp is what burns oil to provide brightness and heat. It's a reflector/sacrificial mirror.
3. Location of light (place)
1) It is the world. / The world here does not refer to the material world. I'm talking about the human world. The world (cosmos) and the village on the mountain refer to the human world. That is why it is called light in a world full of darkness and filth. 1) Do not view the world negatively. You must not take an evasive position or command that it is dirty. Just because we're different, we shouldn't see it as an abomination. 2) Take a ride in the world. These people assimilate or compromise. In theological terms, it becomes secularized/mixed. I live under the world/wet. Saints cannot be separated from the world. But it should not be secularized. The world that God rules is the foundation of the ministry of the saints.
2) This is the house.
In the text, it is called a lamp in the house. (Church/Home) It is to radiate the light of faith in your home/Church. You shouldn't do well outside/not good at home. You don't have to do well at home and/or go out and live as a weapon of evil. It refers to living righteously without losing innocence and wisdom in an unjust and contradictory society.
3) It is a lamp.
In order for a lamp to benefit many, it must shine upon it. The lantern is a difficult and dangerous place because it is a windy/high-profile place. You must climb on top of the lamp. Only then will we be able to carry out our effective ministry. Saints must keep their place even when it is difficult.
4. Purpose of Light/Glory to God
1) The mission of light is to glorify God through the good of men.
It is to glorify God through good deeds to people. Light is a work that glorifies God through its brightness and warmth. Some people dishonor people when they discuss the glory of God. This is the wrong way. The light is to emit light for one's self-esteem or face. no. It is only to bring out the glory of the Lord. Therefore, for the glory of God, we must have a philosophy and creed of faith that we do all our work and give all glory to God.
2)Through the way to glorify / shine.
Shining on the light/good deeds. Paul called good deeds the fruit of the light. Ephesians 5 speaks of the fruit of darkness and of light, and in Galatia it is also expressed as the fruit of the Spirit.
(1) The fruit of darkness.
1) Fornication (illegal sexual intercourse/commonly called adultery) 2) Uncleanness of all kinds. 3) Greed. (Pure desire/ lust for material things) 4) Shame and (vulgarity/ugliness/shame/evil) 5) foolish speech (those who have no God/no content) 6) sarcastic remarks ( dirty joke). In verse 5, it is said that such a person will have no inheritance in the kingdom of God.
(2) The fruit of light
(1) Goodness (It refers to the goodness of character. (2) It is righteousness./ It refers to living by faith. (3) Truthfulness (Speaking the word of truth. (4) It is an act of love. It means to imitate / to follow (5) in a beautiful language/ to glorify God.
The words of the saints are the words of thanksgiving. 5:4. (B) Words that edify (4:29) (C) Words that bring grace. (4:29) God tells us to show glory in the small things around us rather than the big things in ordinary places rather than grandiose places.
He commanded us to proclaim the glory of God through what is right, righteous, and useful rather than through ministry/personal/great things. Let us be little lamps in our lives.