As I read through the Scriptures, it is always amazing to me, just how personal the words are!  A lot of people read the Bible and never hear the personal message that God is delivering to them.  I know so many people who know what the Bible has to say, but all they have is knowledge.  Knowledge without application is useless!  I think that is why Jesus was always making His message extra personal!  In Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus says:  “You are the light of the world!”  Jesus is talking to us as Believers and telling us that we are to light up this depressing, discouraging and dark world with His inspiration, encouragement and light.  My job as a Christian is to illuminate the darkness with the presence and power of Christ in and through my life!

Light is what we are, not just what we do!  When Jesus says:  “You are the light of the world!”  We need to understand that this is about so much more than just representation!  This is about supplying the opposite of what the world is used to.  We do this by daily walking with Jesus and continually lighting the way!

You Influence Does Matter!  We like to pretend that things aren’t so bad, but the truth is:  This is a dark world and many of our Churches have become dark churches!  Don’t trade ways, hand over or give up the gift of light!  We have a mission:  We are to shine bright Jesus this world in which we live.  Let Jesus shine through your life and you will ILLUMINATE and chase away the darkness.  When Jesus is shining though your life you will ACCENTUATE the bad that needs to be avoided and the good that needs to be grabbed!  If you are really lighting this world with the presence of Jesus you will VALIDATE and help people to see, so they can believe!

Are you illuminating and chasing away darkness?  Do you accentuate the positives and get rid of the negatives?  Have you validated Christ and His power, so that others see Jesus in you?  Get your light out from under that basket and put it up on a lamp stand so that everyone might enjoy te blessing of God’s presence and power!