June 12 - Matthew 5:14-15

 

Jesus said, “You are

the light of the world.

A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 

No one after lighting a lamp

puts it under the bushel basket,

but on the lampstand, and

it gives light to all in the house.”

Matthew 5:14-15

 

A young woman who grew up at our church recently posted a page from her devotional book. On it was a story about a church in England. A relatively modern church, most are surprised to find that the architect designed it without lights!

 

Why?

 

Well, when people join the church, they are each assigned a pew and are given a lantern. When they come on Sundays, they light their lantern and when the whole congregation gathers, the church is lit.

 

But what happens, asks the devotional, when one person doesn’t show on a Sunday? Not much. It’s a little dimmer, but it’s just one lantern, right?

 

But what happens when several families don’t show?!

 

The church is dark.

 

That’s a major problem in our culture today. The church – for a variety of reasons – is going dark. And because of that, our society is growing darker, and in the dark, our children are getting lost.

 

Jesus calls us to be light for the world. Citadels on the hills. Beacons in our communities. But … churches are growing dark because even “good Christians” no longer prioritize worship.

 

How brightly are you and your family shining?

 

In Christ’s Love,

a guy whose roots are

from the town that is

famous for Zippo lighters;

wanting to light must come

naturally for me