City Life Starter

The Word

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:13-16

Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”

Luke 17:20-21

If the whole universe has no meaning, we should never have found out that it has no meaning: just as if there were no light in the universe and therefore no creatures with eyes, we should never know it was dark. Dark would be a word without meaning.

C.S. Lewis Mere Christianity Book 2, Chapter 1

Enemy-occupied territory – that is what this world is. Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed, you might say landed in disguise, and is calling us all to take part in a great campaign of sabotage.

C.S. Lewis Mere Christianity Book 2, Chapter 2

Exegesis

Someone gave me a great metaphor of what it means to be a light in the world. He explained how he was in a tour that went deep into a cave. As they came to a very low area of the cave, he had everyone turn off their lights and it became completely dark. Then he showed the light of the watch on his wrist and this small light illuminated the entire cave. “This,” he said, “is what it means to be the light of the world.”

Many of us do not realize that we currently live in a time that, as Christians, we are the kingdom of God on this earth. That we represent God through our actions and deeds. That we may be the only light in a dark place within our work, our neighborhood, or even our family. God puts us in strategic locations to fight the enemy and the territory that it holds.

Scott mentioned this in the sermon last Sunday, explaining that his home was one where people would enter and feel at peace. The peace of God in our lives and in our homes is what makes people feel safe. This is what it means to be the kingdom of God on this earth and to have it in our midst. We carry the kingdom of God within us(through the Holy Spirit), and we bring this light wherever we go. The peace of God is what pushes back the enemy and the territory it occupies.

Application

Are you seeing things from the perspective of a world that is occupied by the enemy? Do you see yourself as a light in a fallen world and that you carry the kingdom of God to those who are lost? If not, pray that God will reveal this to you. That He will help you see the need to spread peace and love to those around you and to be light that shines bright in the midst of darkness.

Prayer

Thank you Father for allowing me to be a part of your kingdom on this earth. We pray for your kingdom to come and your will to be done. Help us to be the light to those around us and to reveal your glory through our lives. Thank you for sending your son to die for my sins and the sins of everyone around me. Help me to show this through my actions, and to fight against the territory occupied by the enemy. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.