You are the light of the world. A city on top of a hill can’t be hidden.  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.  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.

Matthew 5:14-16

I hate our world.  I know, hate is a strong term, but I do.  I hate the strife and the suffering.  I hate the lack of effective leadership and problem-solving.  I hate the stupidity of our culture and our focus on consumerism.  I hardly ever watch the news because it just makes me angry and sad.  Why are people so hurtful?  Why are our leaders so incompetent?    Why do we, as a society, ignore the really pressing issues of poverty, injustice, and violence?  Why are we more passionate about football than starving children?

I know what you’re thinking–this woman should be medicated.  I have my “happy pills”…it’s okay.  I just get fed up with us, as a people.  And sometimes, if I’m being really honest, I get a little fed up with God, too.  I go to him indignant– full hands-on-hip-mom-voice-mode–

Where are you?  What are you doing about this?  Why are you letting this happen?  Can’t you just hurry back and fix this?  Where’s your light, anyway?

And there it is…that still, small voice inside of me that, when I quit ranting and raving, is patiently waiting to respond…

You have my light, the Spirit speaks.  Where are you carrying it?

Pop–righteous indignation immediately deflated.

It’s on me.  Well, not all of it.  It’s on you, too, if you profess to following Christ.  Because Christ was the light, and he gave us his light, which is God’s light, and he told us–the Jesus people–to share that light with others.  In Matthew 5: 14-16 Jesus is telling the people listening to him to go–to do something–to show God’s light to others.  Do good works and others will see God’s light.

I like the way Paul puts it in Ephesians 2: We are God’s accomplishment, created in Christ Jesus to do good things.  God planned for these good things to be the way that we live our lives.

The truth is, God could fix all of the world’s problems in the blink of an eye.  But that’s not the point, is it?  The point is that God called us, his children, to share the light.  We are to live our lives in a way that reflects and magnifies the light of Christ by loving others and serving others.  I may hate the world, but that is precisely where God has called me (and you) to be.

Do you want to see God working in the world?  Then you’d better get moving.

Blessings and Peace,

Sara