Shine Christ’s Light 发出基督之光

[Dexu Xia]

Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5：16

Today's Scripture Matthew 5:13-16

Today's Insights  When we receive God’s gift of salvation, He begins His work of transformation in us. He does this through the Bible, God’s wisdom to us: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). As we read and meditate on the Scriptures, we learn about Him and what it means to be “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). Through prayer, we come to Him for strength and guidance. And, as believers in Jesus, the Holy Spirit living inside us “will guide us into all the truth” (John 16:13). The Spirit helps us to understand and live out the gospel and to “shine” in this dark world by our words and actions, drawing others to Christ, the source of Light.

Today's Devotion

In the dimly lit restaurant, our waitress quietly took our orders with a solemn expression. But then a customer kindly gave her a writing pen that had a little flashlight built into it. He told her it was so she could “see in the dark.”

Her face lit up, and her demeanor changed to reflect joy. It was evident that she was delighted by the gift—clicking the light off and on. When she left our table, the man smiled as he whispered to me, “I think she brightened up when I gave her the pen. It made her day!”

The God-given gift of light certainly brightens our days. Jesus is the ultimate gift of light—“light . . . come into the world” to save the world (John 3:16-19). God provided this gift because He loves us and wants to be in relationship with us. When we receive Christ as our Savior, our sins are forgiven, and we experience fellowship with Him. Jesus brightens our lives for all eternity. He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (8:12).

As believers in Jesus, we’re “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). When we receive the gift God gave us through Christ, we can walk in His light and “let [our] light shine before others” (v. 16). With Him as our source, let’s shine for Him today!

Reflect & Pray

How are you revealing the light of Christ? How can you brighten someone’s life this day?

Heavenly Father, please help me shine Your love and light to others today. By Katara Patton

你们的光也当这样照在人前，叫他们看见你们的好行为，便将荣耀归给你们在天上的父。（马太福音 5:16）

今日经文：马太福音 5:13-16

今日感悟：当我们领受上帝赐下的救恩时，圣灵便开始在我们生命中动工，使我们的生命改变。借着圣经,即上帝赐给我们的智慧，这一切都将在我们生命中成就：“圣经都是神所默示的，于教训、督责、使人归正、教导人学义都是有益的，叫属神的人得以完全，预备行各样的善事”（提摩太后书 3:16-17）。当我们阅读并默想经文时，我们便能认识上帝，并明白作“世上的光”（马太福音 5:14）的真义。借着祷告，我们来到祂面前寻求力量与指引。作为耶稣的信徒，住在我们里面的圣灵“会引导我们明白一切的真理”（约翰福音 16:13）。圣灵帮助我们理解并活出福音，在这个黑暗的世界中借着我们的言行“发光”，从而吸引他人归向那光的源头，基督。

 今日灵修 在一家光线昏暗的餐厅里，女服务员神情严肃地为我们点餐。这时，一位顾客善意地送给她一支内置小手电筒的圆珠笔，并告诉她，这样，她就能“在黑暗中看清东西”了。 她的脸庞顿时亮了起来，神情也转为喜悦。显然，她对这份礼物爱不释手，不停地按动开关，让灯光忽明忽暗。当她离开我们的餐桌时，那位男士微笑着对我低声说道：“我送她那支笔时，她整个人都亮堂起来了。这让她这一天都变得特别美好！”

   神所赐的光明之礼，确实能照亮我们的生活。耶稣就是那终极的光明之礼，是“来到世上”以拯救世人的光（约翰福音 3:16-19）。神赐下这份礼物，是因为祂爱我们，并渴望与我们建立关系。当我们接受基督为救主时，我们的罪便得赦免，并能与祂建立亲密的团契关系。耶稣将永远照亮我们的生命。祂说：“我是世界的光。跟从我的，就不在黑暗里走，必要得着生命的光”（8:12）。 作为信靠耶稣的人，我们就是“世上的光”（马太福音5:14）。当我们领受神借着基督所赐的恩典时，便能行在祂的光中，并“叫[我们]的光照在人前”（16节）。既以祂为源头，今天就让我们为祂发光吧！

 反思与祷告 你如何为基督发光？今天，你会怎样照亮他人的生命？ 天父，求祢帮助我在今天向他人显示祢的爱与光。

作者：卡塔拉·巴顿