You Are The Light of the World
By Jeremy Lim, Session Elder
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 5:14-16)
On May 31, 2019 one of the most influential men in my life died after a year and-a-half-long battle with brain cancer. Rob Paris was 47 years old and left behind an amazing wife and two incredible teenaged daughters. He also left behind hundreds, if not thousands, of lives that were radically changed because of the life he chose to live.
Rob was my high school youth pastor whose passion for Jesus was closely matched by his passion for life. He met with me every week, often two times per week, for all four of my high school years. We met simply as friends who wanted to experience Jesus’ best for us.
I’d like to share an excerpt of what I wrote to Rob’s family following his death:
I’m sure you have heard and read countless testimonies of how God used Rob to impact so, so many people for His kingdom. Count mine among those. I would not know Jesus and His heart for the world the way I do now if I had not had the privilege of knowing Rob and watching him model Jesus to me. Rob ignited a passion in me nearly 25 years ago—a passion to follow Jesus AND to be a part of what He is doing in the lives of those around me. I want to be more like Jesus, and for the rest of my life I will look to Rob as one of the best examples of how to do that well.
Rob was a great man, but my life was not changed because I was friends with a great man. My life was changed because that man willingly and intentionally reflected the Light of Jesus into my life. Rob listened to me and genuinely cared about everything I was dealing with. He shared his wisdom, but he also shared his own struggles. Rob took seriously the role Jesus wanted him to play in my life, and it wasn’t an accident that my time with him deepened my love for and commitment to Christ.
On May 6th I wrote a devotional about how Jesus is the Light of the world (John 8:12). Today I am writing about how Jesus tells us that we are the light of the world. The only way both of these statements can be true is when we recognize Jesus as the source of Light and that our role is to reflect this Light back into the world.
Jesus wants His Light to shine unobstructed and unfiltered into every nook and cranny of life. He wants it to be a beacon of hope and purpose to everyone, Christian and non-Christian alike--a beacon that all are drawn to because of everything His Light represents.
You are the light of the world…
How might you be uniquely positioned to reflect the Light of Jesus exactly where it needs to shine in someone’s life today?
Prayer: Jesus, please shine Your Light into my life and fill me with Your hope. May others be drawn to You and experience Your love and presence as Your Light shines through me. Amen.
Rob with Jeremy (1999)
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