Youth · Day 7 of 7
Light of the World
Read: Matthew 5:1-16 (KJV)
1And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, 3Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 10Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. 13Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Read the whole chapter ›What it means
Jesus opens the Sermon on the Mount with the Beatitudes, a list of people He calls blessed: the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and the persecuted. That list probably does not match who the world celebrates. Social media tends to reward the loudest, the most attractive, and the most confident. Jesus flips that. The humble, the hurting, and those who choose what is right even when it costs them are the ones God honors. Then He tells His followers who they are. 'Ye are the salt of the earth.' 'Ye are the light of the world.' Notice He does not say try to become salt and light. He says you are. Salt in Jesus' day preserved food and gave it flavor. Light pushes back the darkness and helps people see. Your identity in Christ comes with a purpose. You are not meant to hide your faith under a bushel, keeping it so private no one notices. You are meant to let your light shine so people see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. This is not about showing off. It is about living in a way that helps people see God. That is who God says you are: known, loved, chosen, new, and sent.
Key verse
“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.”
Matthew 5:14 (KJV)
Journal it
- Which Beatitude stands out to you most, and why?
- Are there places in your life where you hide your light? What makes it hard to let it shine there?
- Looking back over this series, which truth about your identity do you most need to remember?
Write your answers in a notebook or the notes app on your phone.