To take time to consciously be in God”™s presence wherever you choose can be a time of relaxation and rest to focus on the living God of the Bible. So often, when I fix my thoughts and attention on God ““ I have a need. At times the need may be because I am desperate or worried or for many other reasons.

When things, people and/or circumstances are calm”¦this is when I can relax in God”™s presence waiting on Him, listening to what He has to say through the reading and studying of His word. When Christ Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount”¦people were listening…and so should we.

(NASB) Matthew 5:14-15 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.” Christ said those who follow Him are a light in the world in which they live. We are not to be “˜closet Christians”™. We have Good News to share about Who Jesus is and what He had come to do. Our words and actions should alert others that we have something to share with them: Good News!

(NASB) Matthew 5:16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Please note: Christ did not say the road would be easy or that there would be a life without pain. Consider Christians in India and China (to name but two countries) who are being imprisoned and tortured for their being “˜light”™ in their world.

According to the Voice of the Martyrs.com, a pastor in India was arrested and taken away for passing out Christian literature (and the person who asked for it informed the authorities). A lawyer in China has been imprisoned and tortured (at this writing for 75 days) for speaking up for Christians in China.

These men and their families have not hidden their light away”¦they have shown their countrymen the good works that come because of their commitment to Christ”¦

Your question may be how can this bring glory to God in heaven? These men are being prayed for, their families are being prayed for in the name of Christ.

These men, and others in similar circumstances, are bringing glory to God. People are praying, they are thinking through their faith in the living God. And who knows the impact on those who are guarding them?

For you and me to be a light in our world”¦spending time with the Lord by reading/studying His words will prepare us to not put our light under a basket but to stand firm to tell others the Good News found only in Christ.

To be an effective light,
we need to be “˜plugged in”™ to God and His word.