Matthew 5:13-20
Your Story
Has there been a time in your life when you felt like you were clearly shining God’s light? Or, has there been a time when you witnessed someone clearly shining God’s light?
My Story and the Bible Story
Read Matthew 5:13-20. From The Message: Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage. “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. “Don’t suppose for a minute that I have come to demolish the Scriptures—either God’s Law or the Prophets. I’m not here to demolish but to complete. I am going to put it all together, pull it all together in a vast panorama. God’s Law is more real and lasting than the stars in the sky and the ground at your feet. Long after stars burn out and earth wears out, God’s Law will be alive and working. “Trivialize even the smallest item in God’s Law and you will only have trivialized yourself. But take it seriously, show the way for others, and you will find honor in the kingdom. Unless you do far better than the Pharisees in the matters of right living, you won’t know the first thing about entering the kingdom.
This passage always reminds me of the song “This Little Light of Mine.”
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine,
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine,
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel, no!
I’m gonna let it shine
Hide it under a bushel, no!
I’m gonna let it shine,
Hide it under a bushel, no!
I’m gonna let it shine, let it shine,
Let it shine, let it shine.
When we accept Jesus, we become a light for God. Our lives change because of Jesus. When we listen to God, we are kinder to others and we show them how much God loves them. In this way, we are a light. It’s kind of like we’re all walking around with candles. When it’s dark, a candle is a beacon of light. When it’s dark, a candle shows us which way to go. God is like that. When we aren’t sure what to do or which way to turn, God shows us the way. And when we listen to God and follow God’s way, we help show others the way, too.
If you have a brand new toy that you’re excited about, do you hide it? I bet you don’t. You probably show it to all your friends. In the same way, God wants us to show God’s light, meaning God’s love, to others. Sometimes it’s hard to show God’s love to others when you’re the only one with the light. But the good news is that you aren’t alone. When you go to church, church is full of people shining their lights. One candle may not make much of a difference, but hundreds of candles do. You may only have one little light. But let your light shine because it shows others God’s love. And when your little light joins with everyone else’s, it makes a blazing beacon of light, pointing the way to God. Don’t hide your light. Don’t hide what God has done for you and how much God loves us. Share it with others. And by sharing that light and that love, you can show others how they can be friends with God too.
Discussion
• Ask your children how they can share God’s light with others. Maybe it means helping an elderly neighbor with yardwork or sitting with someone at school who is sitting alone.
• Talk about what it means to hide your light. Provide concrete examples (for instance, if someone never talks about Jesus and never shows God’s love to others).
• Talk about ways you can shine God’s light as a family. Maybe there is someone in your neighborhood who nobody talks to; your family could shine God’s light for them by befriending them. Maybe there’s someone who everyone dislikes for whom you could do something kind.
Prayer
Ask God for courage to share God’s love with others.
Jessica Asbell is currently serving as the Minister to Children at First Baptist Church of Roswell, GA. She has worked with children in various capacities at several churches, including Winter Park Baptist in Wilmington, NC, First Baptist of Decatur, GA, and Highland Hills Baptist in Macon, GA. She has a Master of Divinity from McAfee School of Theology and a BBA from Mercer University. In her spare time she loves to read, watch movies, and of course spend time with her sweet kitty, Lucy.
