URC Daily Devotion 25 October 2025
St Matthew 5: 14 – 16
Jesus said: ‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
Reflection
Following on from describing his followers as salt, Jesus now turns to describe them as light. Just as salt is always noticeable when it is present, so it is with light. You cannot easily completely obscure light. It only needs the tiniest of gaps to shine through. It is also something that we all crave, and need.
You often hear people wishing for summer, not just because it is warmer, but also because of the longer and brighter days. These longer days bring more light, and people tend to feel happier then. It is often the same in relation to God. They feel drawn to his light which Jesus tells us that we are bearers of. Therefore, we should use our lives so that people might be drawn to the light of Christ.
Although there are clear similarities between salt and light, there are also differences as well. Salt is something that works in a small area. On the other hand light illuminates more than simply that on which it is directed, and it is seen from further afield. So it should be with us, in conjunction with our work as salt. We work in a particular place, we bring God’s word in a particular situation, we share God’s love with others – caring for them and helping them, and we live as God calls us to live. But the effects of what we do can be seen much further afield than only in the specific place where we focus our work. Our light, our God given light, shines out for all to see.
This is something we always need to be mindful of, and this is why the whole of our lives are to be lived for God. Being a person of faith is not just something to pick up now and again as we feel like it, for the way we live, the way we act, will demonstrate where our priorities lie.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, light of the world,
shine your light on us, so that we, in turn,
might reflect your light and reveal your glory.
Amen.