Wednesday, October 14, 1998
Wednesday, October 14, 1998
You are the light of the world. (Matthew 5:14
NRSV)
After the Los Angeles riots, Steve Futterman of CBC radio broadcast an interview he had with
one of
the riot's many looters. The man had been one of many people who had looted a record store.
When
asked what he had stolen, the man replied, "Gospel tapes. I love Jesus."
Our text for the day is about people who love Jesus, but hopefully in a more positive way than did
this
looter.
Jesus defined his followers as the "salt of the earth" and the "light of the world." "You are the salt
of the
earth," Jesus told them. He did not say, "Someday in the future you will be `the salt of the earth.'"
Jesus
told them that they were already the "salt of the earth." "You are the light of the world," Jesus
charged
his disciples. Again, Jesus did not say, "Someday in the future, if you do all that I tell you to do,
you will
be the `light of the world.'" Jesus did not say, "If you work hard all your life you will be the `light
of the
world.'" They were already the "light of the world."
You and I are also the "light of the world!"
Prayer: Dear God, help me today to allow your light to shine brightly. Amen.
Ronald Newhouse, Texas, USA