Friday

October 19, 2018

Matthew 5:14-16

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither 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. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

As Christians, we need to understand that no matter where we are, no matter what we do, and no matter we say, we always represent Christ for better or for worse.  Not only do we represent Him when we are in church, but we also represent Him when we are at work, at a sporting event, or at a family gathering.  Fairly or unfairly, our savior is often judged by our actions and thus, the challenge we are given in our text to let our “light so shine before men…”  Jesus wanted His disciples to be known by loving unconditionally (John 13:35); by being merciful (Matthew 5:7); and by other virtuous attributes like honesty (1 Peter 2:12).  Unfortunately, because many have come across Christians that are selfish, insensitive, unpleasant and prideful, they have a low regard for Christianity.

The story is told about a Marriot Hotel room-service waiter who learned that the sister of a guest had passed away. The waiter, named Charles, bought a sympathy card, had hotel staff members sign it, and gave it to the distraught guest with a piece of hot apple pie.

'Mr. Marriott,' the guest later wrote to the president of Marriott Hotels, 'I'll never meet you. And I don't need to meet you. Because I met Charles. I know what you stand for. ... I want to assure you that as long as I live, I will stay at your hotels. And I will tell my friends to stay at your hotels.'

Notice that she wrote in her letter to the man she never had met, “I know what you stand for…”. Sadly, many believe that Christianity stands for selfishness and arrogance because of the Christians they’ve had the misfortune of observing.       

 Parting thought: