We'll Leave The Light On

Leave a Light On!

Matt 5:16

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (KJV)

Introduction

Motel 6 has a slogan that says “We’ll leave a light on for you.” That should be the slogan for every Christian and for every church. We should say to all the lost and dying world in the darkness of sin, “We’ll leave a light on for you.” We will let Jesus shine. Our Christianity is of no value if it is not shining out in our daily lives.

There are three points in this verse:

1. Leave a light on. “Let your light so shine before men”. That means that you personally have a light to shine. YOUR INFLUENCE.

2. Leave a light on that others may see “your good works”. That means that you have a task to do. YOUR ACTIONS.

3. Leave a light on as men are to see your “good works” and give your Father the glory. That means that what you do has eternal consequences. YOUR MOTIVE.

In your community there are many people. There are many people for whom we can leave a light on.

Today church growth analysts say that a church should be able to normally reach out about 25 miles. People will travel that far to find a church that suits and meets their needs. Half of those people are lost and without Christ. Many of them would find that this church suits and meets their needs. How can this church effectively find them and witness to them and enlist them?

Consider these three points as you ponder that question. They are about you.

I. Your Influence.

II. Your Actions.

III. Your Motive.

I. We‘ll leave a light on! YOUR INFLUENCE. We will let our light shine. “Let your light so shine before men”

Your light represents the presence of God within you and among those with whom you come in contact. You have something to offer, something that the world cannot offer, the Gospel. You have light to shine in the darkness of their sin. “Let your light so shine”.

Remember this is not a spotlight to reveal the sins of others it is a beacon to guide others. Rekindle the beacon of light Jesus had for His disciples and for you. Make a difference in the world in which you live. The Great Commission will be fulfilled when we light up the world with Christ, one person at a time, beginning in our Jerusalem (Ore City) and extending to the ends of the earth.

George Barna, in his book, “Grow Your Church from the Outside”, speaks of the power of influence.# When Jesus spoke of the light that was to be shining he was talking about our influence.

We should make every effort to offer people the same thing that we have experienced in Jesus. We offer people a new relationship with God the Father through His Son Jesus Christ. We should be able to say to people, “follow me.” But, to do that we have to show them the way.#

When was the last time you were excited about inviting someone to come and worship with you? You have something to get excited about. Are you as excited about worship in your church as you are about sports, recreation or leisure, or even your work? We need to “get all excited and tell everybody that Jesus Christ is King?” Get excited and leave a light on.

II. We‘ll leave a light on! YOUR ACTIONS. We are going to do the right thing. “That they may see your good works.“

When Jesus spoke of the light that was to shine He was talking about our good works. Doing good works is not an option. Doing what is right is not an option. You have work to do. It is to be good works. This is the way to make your light shine. This is how you make the light real in the lives of others. You are to do what is right, visibly, before others. In this way you carry Jesus into the lives of others so that they might listen.

Never hide your faith. It is to be visible for all to see. It is to work itself out in everyday life in a thousand ways. You are to walk the walk.

Several years ago there was a movement started called “Pass it On”. One person would do a random act of kindness and that was to be passed on to another. Just being kind to one another just doing something good.

(Eph 2:10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (KJV)