Half Nighter Devo

Big Idea: YOU are the LIGHT of the WORLD.

Scripture: Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT)

Hey, friends! First, I want you to know that I’m so grateful that you’re all here! This has been so much fun, and it’s been a blast getting to hang out with all of you.

But can I be honest with you about something that drives me absolutely bananas? Whenever it’s super dark and a light gets turned on. Like I’m laying in bed and someone in my family turns the light on. WHY?!

Or when I’m driving down the road and the car on the other side has their blinder lights on. YOU CAN’T SEE A THING WHEN THAT HAPPENS!

Why does this bother me so much? I think it’s because when you’re in the dark, even a little bit of light has the power of hurting your eyes until they adjust. It’s like it’s begging for you to pay attention to it. And I wonder if that might have been what Jesus was getting at when He said this in Matthew 5:

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.” (Matthew 5:14 – NLT):

He basically said that the light that you and I have ought to be so bright that it just can’t be hidden. And I know that might sound a little confusing, but thankfully, Jesus explains what He meant in the next two verses:

“No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5:15-16 – NLT)

Look. Jesus knows that our world isn’t perfect. In fact, it’s far from it, but it’s so cool to know that when we allow Him to shine through us in the form of good deeds, it’s blinding at first… but in a good way because it shows people the truth.

Jesus wants us all to know that when we do good things for others, we’re making our world a better place. And even though it might seem like our good deeds are really small, and the world is really big, I like to remind myself that even a little light makes a HUGE difference in a dark place.

So, what do you think? Do you think we can make our world a little bit better this week by going out of our way to do good things for others?

And if a little light from even one of us can make a HUGE difference, what do you think would happen if we ALL decide to do as much good as we can in our world? Now that’s a world I definitely want to live in. And it’s one that I definitely want to help create.

So, let’s do it.

Let’s be the light that Jesus tells us we can be.

Let’s make our world better.

And let’s do that together!

*Bow Heads and close eyes*

And for those of you who don’t know about this Jesus and Christian thing.

You can step into the light tonight.

Christ is calling you to come out of the darkness and to accept Him into your heart.

*Sinner’s Prayer*