To the disciples who followed,
but not to the crowds,
Jesus declared,

You are the light of the world . . . .

You are.
Not will be.
Already are.

By Christ-indwelling, you became His light.
Infused in your spirit is the blazing white
light of His presence: fully Light, utter Fire.

A blinding light, that of Christ Himself,
exists in every born again believer,
imparted into the spirit at new birth.
The human spirit - filled with the Holy Spirit -
becomes pulsating with dynamic light.

You ARE the light of the world.
You are a light-bearer, a light dispenser.
You are a literal beacon in the darkness.

You did not originate it,
establish it or achieve it.
You are only to "let" it glow and not obscure it . . . .

You are the light of the world,
A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
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.

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.
Matthew 5:14-16

We are light. Not merely messengers.
Not simply workers but LIGHT to the world.
Made to be light, imbued with eternal light
and commissioned . . . to shine. 

Ones who will shine with God-presence
ARE like a city.
They stand out, speak out, live out . . .
as a Startling Floodlight.
Everyone in their area sees the Light, from all walks,
from every street, the Light is observed.

The bushel basket - emblem of work -
is the soul's exertion of itself that
obliterates the Light. 

The simple word "let." Easy way, this "let."
The release of the Christ-Light within.
"Let" your light shine . . . .
You are light.
You have only to get out of its way.

"Let" - word of release and permission.
The soul's ambition is to BE the light,
steal the light, and take credit for the light.
But then the Light is covered as if not even there.
Light will not share its glory with a greedy soul.

As the soul is struck by the precision of God-blows,
the Light begins to find freedom.
The rough soul is chiseled away until the
new diamond-pure creation is released to free
the Light already glowing within.

And the soul becomes a prism of reflection only,
a mere vessel of the Splendid Light! 

When the "works" are finally not
the heavings of a human bushel basket;
when God Himself can be Himself in you,
then Light has its blazing message to the world . . .

and people will literally SEE the Light
and know it is GOD! 

God wants not only spokesmen and representatives.
He wants torches!

Copyright © 2004 Martha Kilpatrick