Shine the Light!

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16

In 1989, Vaclav Havel was elevated from his position as a political prisoner to become the first elected president of Czechoslovakia. Years later at his funeral in Prague in 2011, former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, who herself was born in Prague, described him as one who had “brought the light to places of deep darkness.”

What Havel’s introduction of light did in the political arena of Czechoslovakia (and later the Czech Republic), our Lord Jesus did for the whole world. He brought light into existence when He created light out of darkness at the dawn of time (John 1:2–3; cf. Gen 1:2–3). Then, with His birth, He brought light to the spiritual arena. Jesus is the life and light that darkness cannot overcome (John 1:5).

John the Baptist came from the wilderness to bear witness to Jesus, the light of the world. We can do the same today. In fact that is what Jesus told us to do: “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:16).

In our world today—when good is often considered bad and bad is seen as good, when truth and error are switched around—people are looking for direction in life. May we be the ones who shine the light of Christ into our world.

Father in heaven, thank You for the light of Jesus that came into the world and for the light He has brought into my life. Help me to remain grateful and to be Your light in the dark world around me.

发出基督的亮光吧！

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章16节

在1989年，瓦茨拉夫·哈维尔（Vaclav Havel）从政治犯跃升为捷克斯洛伐克的第一任民选总统，带领国家进入民主时代。2011年，他的丧礼在布拉格举行。当时，同样出生于布拉格的前美国国务卿马德琳·欧布莱特（Madeleine Albright）将他描述为“为黑暗深渊带来光明”的政治人物。

哈维尔为捷克斯洛伐克以及如今的捷克共和国带来光明，但主耶稣的光却是照亮整个世界。祂在起初创造天地的时候，从黑暗中造出光明，从此这世界就有了光(约翰福音1章2-3节；创世记1章2-3节) 。过后，随着耶稣的降生，祂让光进到人的生命当中。耶稣就是生命也是亮光，黑暗权势无法胜过 (约翰福音1章5节) 。

施洗约翰从旷野出来，为要见证耶稣就是这世界的光。我们今日也可以为光作见证，正如耶稣告诉我们：“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章16节)

在现今黑白颠倒、是非混淆的世代中，人们都在寻求生命的方向。愿我们能发出基督的光，照亮这个世界。

天父，感谢祢，让耶稣的亮光照耀这世界，
也让我的生命充满光明。
让我常心存感恩，并且在这黑暗的世界中成为祢的光。

John 1:1-8NIV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.

6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

整理：于姊妹