ALL Y’ALL ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”  (Matthew 5:14-16)

Jesus is speaking to His gathered disciples and reveals what life in the Kingdom should look like… It’s important first to note that the “you” in verse 14 is plural and would better be translated as “all y’all”. So while there are places where the Scripture speaks of us individually reflecting God’s glory in our unique way, here Jesus tells His disciples: “All Y’all” (collectively) are the light of the world.

Think of it this way. People who get lost in a dark cave have a greater chance of finding their way out if someone lights and holds a single candle. However, they have a much greater chance of finding their way out if a thousand people who are spread all over the cave light and hold candles…

So if we are interpreting Jesus’ words correctly, God’s plan to light up the dark world is to send His disciples into the world to shine His glory through good works done from a heart full of love.

A plain reading of Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” indicates that God handcrafted you intending to use your life to share a unique part of His glory with the world through you… So we show God’s glory to the world as we express and reflect the goodness of God to the world through the good works He commands us to do in His name.

To return to the dark cave illustration, it’s as if God deploys a thousand people all holding their single candles spread into the different parts of the cave people are lost in and collectively uses those candles to draw an arrow of light to point to the way of escape and rescue. The creativity and wonder of it all takes my breath away.

May you let Christ shine through you as you do His work in the world. 

-- Rev. Tim Carson, former pastor at Estero Church, Florida

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TAKING UP OUR CROSS

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If any of you wants to be My follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow Me.’”  (Matthew 16:24 NLT)

Jesus does not say, “Make a cross” or “Look for a cross.” Each of us has a cross to carry. There is no need to make one or look for one. The cross we have is hard enough for us! But are we willing to take it up, to accept it as our cross?

Maybe we can’t study, maybe we have a handicap, maybe we suffer from depression, maybe we experience conflict in our families, maybe we are victims of violence or abuse. We didn’t choose any of it, but those things are our crosses. We can ignore them, reject them, refuse them, or hate them. But we can also take up these crosses and follow Jesus with them. 

-- Adapted from Henri J. M. Nouwen in “Bread for the Journey”

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FROM DESPERATION TO WHOLENESS

Mark 5:25-34 tells the story of a woman who had suffered for twelve years with a condition that left her physically drained and socially isolated. Her story reminds us of the transformative power of faith in Christ.

The woman, having exhausted all earthly options, approached Jesus in desperation. Her faith drove her to reach out and touch His garment, believing that even the smallest act could connect her to His power. Often, it is in our lowest moments of desperation -- when we recognize our own limitations -- that we truly open the door to God’s miraculous intervention.

For years, her condition had left her ostracized, an outcast in her community. But Jesus didn’t just heal her physically; He publicly acknowledged her, calling her "Daughter." In that moment, she was restored not only to health but to belonging. God’s power doesn’t just address our needs -- it draws us into relationship with Him and with others.

The touch of Jesus didn’t merely stop her bleeding; it made her whole. God’s power goes beyond the surface, bringing complete restoration to body, mind, and soul. When we turn to Him, we experience not just healing but transformation into the fullness of life He intends for us.

Let this passage remind us that no matter how desperate or isolated we feel, God’s power in Christ is available to bring us into healing, community, and wholeness. May we, like the woman, reach out in faith to Christ and experience His transformative love. 

-- Based on a sermon by Pastor Wes Olds, Grace Church, Cape Coral, Florida  

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RESPONDING WITH COMPASSION

Every time the Gospels mention that Jesus was moved with the deepest emotions or felt sorry for people, it led to His doing something -- physical or inner healing, deliverance or exorcism, feeding the hungry crowds or praying for others. The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) was commended precisely because he acted. The priest and Levite, paragons of Jewish virtue, flunked the test because they didn’t do anything. Jesus ask, “Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the man who fell in with the robbers?” The answer came, “The one who treated him with compassion.” Jesus said to them, “Then go and do the same.” 

-- Brennan Manning in “Reflections for Ragamuffins”

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HONEST TO GOD

“When I kept things to myself, I felt weak deep inside me. I moaned all day long. Day and night You punished me. My strength was gone as in the summer heat. Then I confessed my sins to You and didn’t hide my guilt. I said, ‘I will confess my sins to the Lord,’ and You forgave my guilt.”  (Psalm 32:3-5 NCV)

I made a mistake in high school. Our baseball coach had a firm rule against chewing tobacco. We had a couple of players who were known to sneak a chew, and he wanted to call it to our attention.

He got our attention, all right. Before long we’d all tried it. A sure test of manhood was to take a chew when the pouch was passed down the bench. I had barely made the team; I sure wasn’t going to fail the test of manhood.

One day I’d just popped a plug in my mouth when one of the players warned, “Here comes the coach!” Not wanting to get caught, I did what came naturally, I swallowed. Gulp.

I added new meaning to the scripture, “I felt weak deep inside me. I mourned all day long… My strength was gone as in the summer heat.” I paid the price for hiding my disobedience.

My body was not made to ingest tobacco. Your soul was not made to ingest sin.

May I ask a frank question? Are you keeping any secrets from God? Any parts of your life off limits? Any cellars boarded up or attics locked? Any parts of your past or present that you hope you and God never discuss?

Take a pointer from a nauseated third baseman. You’ll feel better if you get it out. 

 -- Max Lucado in “In the Grip of Grace”

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