Thursday Devo
Scripture Reading:
Matthew 5:14-16
14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
Commentary from the ESV Study Bible:
5:14 light of the world. Jesus’ disciples have the kingdom life within them as a living testimony to those in the world who do not yet have the light.
5:15 The typical lamp in a Jewish home was fairly small and was placed on a stand to give maximum illumination.
5:16 The world will see the light of the kingdom through the good works done by Jesus’ disciples (and believers today), with the result that the Father who is in heaven will be glorified.
5:15 The typical lamp in a Jewish home was fairly small and was placed on a stand to give maximum illumination.
5:16 The world will see the light of the kingdom through the good works done by Jesus’ disciples (and believers today), with the result that the Father who is in heaven will be glorified.
Study Questions:
- One of the takeaways from Sunday was, "BE the LIGHT." When we receive the light, we then shine his light for all to see. That's how it is supposed to work. Following Jesus was never meant to be a half-hearted commitment. He's not a side project, not something you add to your life. He IS your life. Being a Jesus follower must become our primary identity, our number one calling. We are to be his lights in dark places. How bright is YOUR light? Are you all-in? Half-hearted? How surrendered are you to his Spirit, his ways, the truth of his Word? What have you not laid on the altar? How can you turn up the brightness?
- James, the brother of Jesus, said that faith without works is dead. This means that if you have a genuine faith in Jesus and are a true follower of him, your actions will prove it. It means that there will be such a heart change within you that you will start to want the same things as the Father, your priorities will start to shift, you'll long to be obedient to his word. And here in Matthew 5, Jesus is saying that THIS is how we'll shine. It'll be, not through our preaching or screaming truth at people, but through our good deeds. By our love for other people. They will see the way we behave and care for people and what is the end result? They will praise our heavenly Father. What do your actions say about your faith? Can you honestly say your good deeds are shining out for all to see?
Pray:
- That you will shine brightly for Jesus today.
- That your good deeds would shine for all to see.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
3. Why did Jesus have to die on the cross? Since “all have sinned” and the “wages of sin is death,” Jesus had to die on the cross to pay the fine for my sin so I could be right with God.
(Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:21-23, 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:1-6; Colossians 1:13-14, 21-22)
(Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:21-23, 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:1-6; Colossians 1:13-14, 21-22)
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