Jesus Is The Light!

TELL A PERSONAL STORY

· Talk about a time you had a perception of someone that turned out to be wrong.

· Focus on what you thought before getting to know them and how that changed once you became closer.

Your perspective of someone determines how you think, feel, or act toward them. In other words, the way you see a person determines how you act toward that person.

All of us, at one time or another, have held a certain perspective of a certain someone. Maybe, like me, you treated that certain someone in a certain way based on your perception of them. But when you got to know them, your perspective changed.

There is something else to consider as it relates to perspective.

Just because you have a perspective doesn’t mean you see things correctly.

Have you ever left a movie with a friend where that friend spent the same 90 minutes watching the same exact movie you did, but what they thought about the film and what you thought about the film were completely opposite? Have you ever sat beside someone at a sporting event watching the same exact game or match, but the person next to you had no clue what they are actually watching? Or think about this in terms of people. You and I can physically see someone and still not see that person at all.

Perspective and vision can be mutually exclusive. You can have one without the other.

There's a story in the Gospel of Matthew in which Jesus tells His followers something that probably sounds kind of weird without context. Here is what Jesus tells them:

“Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is” (Matthew 6:22-23 NLT)!

Okay, there are a few different ideas of what Jesus means here.

Some scholars believe He was talking about setting our sights on being completely loyal to God versus being distracted by what God says is less than best. Other scholars think Jesus was referring to an idea that first-century Jewish people would have understood that an unhealthy eye meant someone was greedy or selfish. So, if we follow that second idea, maybe what Jesus was referring to was a person who looks for opportunities to be generous versus a person who looks for opportunities to be greedy or selfish.

Jesus was reminding us that the way we act toward the people in our world who are struggling and in need says a lot about what we believe. The words we use, the things we do, and the way we behave toward others can either point people toward God or turn them away from faith. Once we become aware of the needs of others, we have the opportunity to put our faith into action. That's when our whole body will be filled with light!

This is an idea Jesus talked about specifically when He was giving His most well-known sermon on the side of a mountain. Look at how He encouraged His audience then:

"... let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father" (Matthew 5:16 NLT).

Don’t miss this! Jesus was implying that God’s light in you brings light to others.

Jesus was telling His followers that the way we treat our families, our friends, and the people around us matters. The words we use and the way we live our lives have the potential to point people toward God. But likewise, our words and behavior could turn people away from God, too! The way we live will either invite people into a conversation about faith or incite them into a conflict about faith. I don’t know about you, but I want to do the first one!

Jesus was encouraging you to remember that the way you live your life, how you act, and how you speak will "shine out for the all to see" and draw people to God. Everything you say, every word of encouragement, every post to social media, every time you care for the hurting, every time you acknowledge someone who has been left out, every time you sit with someone who is lonely—it not only says a lot about you, it also sends a message about the God you believe in.

When we read Jesus’ words about having a healthy eye and being a light to others, I think the picture we often have is of a single light shining brightly in a dark world—like a lighthouse shining to guide the way. But what if your life isn’t one single light shining the way to God? What if it was actually a string of smaller lights? [Turn on the string of lights and hold it up for students to see.]

What if every word, every act, every decision you make throughout each day is built on each other until your life is like a jar full of string lights? [Start placing the lights inside the jar as you talk.] It’s not one big, bright light that illuminates the world, but rather, a number of smaller, individual lights that give light. So, what if our lives shine brightest one step, one decision, one action, one social media post, one act of generosity, one word of encouragement at a time? [Hold up the jar with all the lights inside. If you can, have the house lights come down slowly for effect.

When your eyes are healthy, as Jesus described, you have a whole new perspective of the world. You will start looking out to see the needs of people around you, and then you will be able to focus in on ways to be generous and supportive.

You will be able to see people who need encouragement. You will see people who need some compassion and grace. And as you move to support and comfort them, your whole body will be filled with light, and your good deeds will shine out for all to see.

Today, let me encourage you to do two things.

1. See the needs around you. Take notice to see where people are hurting and where there is a need. Look out for the person who is lonely or in need of support or encouragement.

2. Bless the people around you. Take a moment to consider other people and do what you can to help them in their struggles and difficulties. Maybe all they need is a word of encouragement. Maybe they need some practical help. Maybe they need someone to sit with them. You have the chance to shine a light into their world and show them how Jesus would care for them.

In every moment of every day, we have the chance to make decisions that will either put light or darkness out into the world. We can choose to ignore the feelings of others, to step over their situation, and overlook their struggles. Or, we can have healthy eyes that see the pain and injustice in the world and choose to do something about it.

Jesus encourages us to have healthy eyes that see the needs of others. To act, to help, and to care for them in a way that brings peace into their lives and ultimately points them toward God.

God’s light in you brings light to others.

Main Points:

1. The Source of Our Light (Matthew 6:22-23)

Understanding the Eye as a Lamp: The health of our vision reflects the condition of our spiritual life. Just as a lamp illuminates a room, our spiritual perception affects our entire being. Healthy vs. Unhealthy Eyes: Healthy eyes represent clarity of purpose and alignment with God’s will. Unhealthy eyes signify distractions and a misaligned focus that can lead to spiritual darkness. Self-Reflection: Encourage congregants to examine their focus—what are they allowing into their hearts and minds? Are they filled with the light of Christ or the darkness of the world?

2. Shining Our Light (Matthew 5:16)

Purpose of Our Light: Our good deeds are not just for our benefit but to reflect God's glory. We are called to be beacons of hope and love in a world often shrouded in darkness. Living Authentically: To let our light shine means living out our faith genuinely and consistently. This can be through acts of kindness, integrity in our work, and love in our relationships. Impact on Others: Highlight how our actions can inspire others to seek God. When we shine our light, we not only honor God but also draw others into His presence.

3. The Call to Action: Cultivating Our Light

Daily Practices: Encourage practices such as prayer, reading Scripture, and engaging in community service that foster spiritual health and clarity. Overcoming Obstacles:

Address common challenges that can dim our light—distractions, negativity, and spiritual apathy. Provide practical steps to overcome these obstacles.

Community and Accountability: Emphasize the importance of surrounding ourselves with fellow believers who can encourage and hold us accountable in our walk with Christ.

Why because just like the Pslamist said in Psalm 139:23–24“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Although David despised the wicked who spoke against God and took His name in vain, he realized he was not perfect. He was keenly aware that sin might be lurking in his heart and mind. Therefore, he asked the Lord to search his heart and know his thoughts. The Hebrew word translated "search" here is one often used to describe the way miners searched deeply for gold. This is the same term used at the beginning of this psalm (Psalm 139:1), as well as of Israelites scouring the land for territory to claim as their own (Judges 18:2). David was a man after God's own heart (Acts 13:22), but he knew the heart is "deceitful above all things, and desperately sick" (Jeremiah 17:9). Only the omniscient God, whom he described earlier in the psalm, could search the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). David also asked the Lord to know his thoughts. Again, only the omniscient God could do this.

In verse 24, David sked the Lord to see if any grievous way was in his heart or mind. "Grievous" here means something which causes pain or sorrow. This is the kind of pain that results from being afflicted because of sin. David wanted his conscience to be free of pain, and of any sense of offending God. Sin has natural, negative consequences. Proverbs 13:15 assures us that "the way of the transgressors is hard" (KJV). In this passage, David also asks God to lead him "in the way everlasting." As David uses it here, this might mean the ancient way that godly men of the past followed. This was the way that led ultimately to everlasting life, not as something to be gained by works but entered by grace.