John 8:12 “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” “(Jo 1:4; 3:19; 12:46)
“I am the Light of the world” illuminating, lighting the darkness, dawning upon the hearts of men to reveal to them their condition - this is an act of mercy and grace - the giving of light as a gift to mankind to make them aware of their need - God is good, He desires for us our good, and is willing and wanting to reveal to us those things that have separated us from Him - our sin - in contrast to His righteousness expressed by His love and service…, “...love one another, as I have loved you…” (John 14)
Jesus then said something that was very important for us to grasp “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9:5. We might take that as, “...and when I leave, you will be the light of the world”
Matthew 5:14-16 14“You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. 15No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house.s 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”
Having been lit by Jesus, with/by His righteousness and goodness, those around us will see our works and be able to discern whose we are, by what we do and for whom, how we do it, and with what attitude - realizing that everything begins with our attitude (our mindset toward someone or something and that we will treat someone as we think about them) and attitude is everything!
Descrinarily or blindly (Mat 5:38-48; Acts 10:34; Ro 12:9-21; Ja 2:1-13; 3:17)
8If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. 9But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.
Begrudgingly or gladly (2Cor 9:6-8)
6Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.”
Stingily or generously with cheer, without thought of cost. (Prov 23:6-7; 28:22)
6Do not eat the food of a begrudging host, do not crave his delicacies; 7for he is the kind of person who is always thinking about the cost. “Eat and drink,” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.
8You will vomit up the little you have eaten and will have wasted your compliments.
Keeping a distance or showing hospitality without grumbling (Heb 13:2; 1Pe 4:9)
1Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. 2Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.
Luke 6:38 “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
1Cor 12:7-4-11
How do we illuminate? Remembering whose we are and living accordingly (Eph 4:1; 5:1-2). Recognizing that we are one - one body - bringing forward our gifts for the common good…
1Corinthians 11:17-34 being mindful that we are inter-related, belonging to one another, called to be one, as one body, with one mind, one spirit, and one purpose - the many coming together as one to express Jesus’ love, mercy, and grace - as we have received it we are to give it - together. How we love and serve one another, how we treat one another, live out our faith with one another, and work through our differences with one another - working through our opinions, our own agendas, our own ambitions, to a place of mutual submission (Eph 5), harmony, and appreciation of what each and every one of us brings.
20I am not asking on behalf of them alone, but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.
What are my attitude about others and their needs? What is my attitude about what is “mine”? How tightly do I hold onto what is mine and why? What is my attitude about giving to others? How do I perceive others who are different from me? How quickly do I form an opinion of others at first glance? What do I need to do to look past someone’s appearance or differences to be able to see the person they are and treat them like Jesus would have me? What might I need to do to change my mindset as to how I see, think about, and treat others? (see: Romans 12:1-3, 9,1316,; Hebrews 4:12-13)
