You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Nor do people light a lamp and
put it under a basket, but on a stand,
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 who is in heaven.
~Matthew 5:14-16
Practically speaking, a city on a hill cannot be hidden because it is up so high it lights up even darkest night sky. In this portion of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is teaching that the Christian community is created to be like that city. The church is God’s light to the world and called to be so transparent and authentic that it cannot be hidden.
There are times when it is hard to be part of the church and part of God’s light to the world. In fact there are times, I am tempted to run for cover. But just as no one would ever think to put a lamp under a basket, the Holy Spirit compels me to not even consider hiding the light that Christ has so gracious called me to share with others.
Moreover, these words Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote in The Cost of Discipleship have reminded me that I cannot deny my call: Flight into the invisible is a denial of call. A community of Jesus which seeks to hide itself, has ceased to follow him.
May we, in Christian community, follow Jesus authentically and transparently, because we are not called to hide!
Come Learn Rest Ministries 