You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden, nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16, NASB)
Sunday afternoons on the back of the range are sometimes my favorite day to practice. A few years ago, Ken Hopper told me that when he goes to the range, it’s really “ministry time”- fertile ground to change the conversation. A few weeks ago, something extraordinary happened while I was “digging it out in the dirt.”
A good friend of mine, a retired pro, appeared to be taking a lesson or getting advice from someone I didn’t recognize. After about ten or fifteen minutes of hearing them discuss ball flight, rotation, ball position, release patterns, and other technical issues, my friend called me to meet his instructor, John.
John is a retired attorney, loves golf, and his brother used to be my doctor. He lives in an area where we have a Links Fellowship, and I connected him with our leader, who sent me John’s photo in a text stating, “John recommitted his life to Jesus!” Our Links Fellowship was doing precisely what Paul instructed us to do.
“The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:2).
Our fellowships create opportunities for a group of men and women to encourage, mentor, teach and pray for one another. This wouldn’t happen if we were hiding our light.
In the opening three verses, Jesus encourages believers to be known to the world, to be light, and not hide or be afraid of telling people why we believe what we believe.
To light up for the kingdom means we need to keep sin from dimming our light, speak up when we should, and pay attention to the needs of others.
If Bobby hadn’t let his light shine and speak up, John might never have learned that Jesus always loves him and looks at him as if he is white as snow, without blemish.
The price has been paid for our transgressions, as Paul reminds us, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved). (Ephesians 2:4-5).
There are many people whose lives are shrouded in darkness. Live your life with intention. Live your life to bring the light of Christ to those walking in darkness.
Prayer: Lord, help us to be a light to the lost!