• Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Jacque Watkins

finding grace through the mud

  • About
    • Welcome
    • My Family
  • My Story
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Before An Affair
  • Faith
    • Intimacy with God
      • Bible Reading
        • Bible in 90 Days
        • Devotional
      • Journaling
    • Bible Memorization
    • SOTM
    • Discipleship
    • God’s Love
    • Promises
    • Sovereignty
    • Mercy & Grace
  • Relationships
    • Community
      • Five Minute Friday
      • (In)couragers
        • Mended
        • Unglued
      • God-Sized Dreams
      • (in)RL
    • Family
      • Homeschooling Posts
    • Marriage
    • Motherhood
    • Friendship
    • Character
      • Authenticity
      • Compassion
      • Forgiveness
      • Gratitude
        • One Thousand Gifts
        • One Beautiful Thing
      • Holiness
      • Hope
      • Humility/Self-Denial
      • Joy
      • Leadership
    • Guest Posts
      • (In)courage
      • The MOB Society
      • Sisters in Bloom
  • Adversity
    • Brokenness
    • Grief & Suffering
    • Pregnancy Loss
    • Divorce
    • Failure
    • Guilt & Shame
    • Temptation
  • Resources
  • Contact

We ARE the Light of the World :: Sermon on the Mount {Week 7}

by Jacque Watkins

 
img
Matthew 5:19-20 (ESV)
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.
 

When I was nine, I was afraid of the dark. I can remember the closet in my bedroom…how it had sliding doors, and how I would walk over and shut them tightly before turning off the light. In fact I had a bedside lamp and I would turn that on first. Then I would inspect the inside of my closet thoroughly and  check around the room and underneath the bed. Then I’d turn off the overhead light, get in my covers, and only then, after getting all situated, when all was clear, would I turn off the light.

It’s hard to explain the irrationality of a child’s fear, but I can assure you it was real. And I have become more sympathetic to others who have that fear, especially my own children.

But one thing I did know, even at 9 years old, was that light dispels darkness. As soon as I turned the light on, the darkness would leave, and everything became clear. I could see. I could find the things I was looking for and confirm the absence of the things I was afraid of, and what a comfort it was to have light.

img
John 8:12 (ESV)
Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
 
 

When Jesus came to this earth, He was the light of the world. And He said if we follow Him, we will have the light. As representatives of Him we become the light of the world as we actively live out our faith and follow in His example. We become like a city situated on a hill, light that cannot be hidden. Our very presence brings hope and a chance for others to see goodness and notice love … a love they may have been longing for but hadn’t been able to see.

The love of Christ and the light of His truth shine through us and their rays penetrate out into the world.

And Jesus says, let your light shine!

Don’t be ashamed.

Don’t be intimidated.

Don’t cover your light to avoid others discovering it.

Let it shine.

Let it penetrate and dispel the darkness around you.

Let them see your good works.

Let them see how you love even when you’re treated unfairly.

How you’re kind and generous in situations of favoritism and injustice.

How you’re patient and self-controlled in the midst of irritation and inefficiency.

It is our choices that will ultimately be an example of Christ to the world and ultimately bring glory to God. And as our very lives reflect His light, He is glorified through us.

We live to bring Him glory.

This week may you be the light, reflecting that light to others, and bringing glory to God in the process.

We ARE the light of the world, to the glory of God the Father!

 

 

Every secret, every shame, Every fear, every pain
Live inside the dark, But that’s not who we are,
We are children of the day
 
So wake up sleeper, lift your head
We were meant for more than this
Fight the shadows conquer death
Make the most of the time we have left
 
We are the light of the world
We are the city on a hill
We are the light of the world
We gotta, we gotta, we gotta let the light shine
 
We are called to spread the news
Tell the world the simple truth
Jesus came to save, there’s freedom in His Name
So let it all break through
We are the light of the world
We are the city on a hill
We are the light of the world
We gotta, we gotta, we gotta let the light shine
We are the light of the world
We are the city on a hill
We are the light of the world
We gotta, we gotta, we gotta let the light shine
 
Bridge:
We are the light
we are the light
we are the light
So let your light shine brighter.
 
We are the light
we are the light
we are the light

 

Continuing on in memorizing the Sermon on the Mount, with Ann and this community. Join us?

This week on to Matthew 5:17-18 (ESV)…

 
img
{WEEK 8}
 
Matthew 5:17-18 (ESV)
Do not think that I have come to abolish  the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but  to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

 

d n t t i h c t a t l o t p i h n c t a t b t f t f t i s t y u h a e p a n a i n a d w p f t l u a i a
 

Other posts in this series:

~Memorizing the Sermon on the Mount

~For When You Want to Know How to Really Teach {Week 1}

~For When You Need to Quit Performing to Earn God’s Love and Blessing {Week 2}

~When You Long to be Satisfied and Supremely Happy {Week 3}

~For When Memorizing is Intimidating and Change is a Challenge {Week 4}

~For When You Don’t Fit in and You’re Not Feeling Accepted {Week 5}

~Because You Are Meant to BE the Flavor {Week 6}

 

 

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

Related posts:

For When You Need to Quit Performing to Earn God’s Love and Blessing :: Sermon on the Mount {Week 2} When You Long to Be Satisfied and Supremely Happy :: Sermon on the Mount {Week 3} For When You Don’t Fit in and You’re Not Feeling Accepted :: Sermon on the Mount {Week 5}
img
<center><a href='http://www.audibletrack.com/click.track?CID=102175&AFID=317075&ADID=1213643&SID='><img src='http://www.audibletrack.com/impression.track?CID=102175&AFID=317075&ADID=1213643&SID=' border='0' /></a></center>

Comments

  1. Anonymous says

    May 21, 2012 at 9:28 am

    Hi Jacque,

    Great post and song…thanks for the encouragement! Blessings 🙂

  2. Jacque Watkins says

    May 21, 2012 at 2:16 pm

    Thank you! Have a wonderful day 🙂

  3. Ro elliott says

    May 21, 2012 at 4:23 pm

    Jacque…great post…and yes may our light shine and reflect His beauty in this world…happy Monday to you my friend…blessings~

  4. eryn {mamahall} says

    May 23, 2012 at 2:09 pm

    LOVE IT! What if we all decided to be light-shiners? Imagine that!

  5. Jacque Watkins says

    May 23, 2012 at 2:18 pm

    Thank you Ro! Hoping your day is full of light 🙂

  6. Jacque Watkins says

    May 23, 2012 at 2:19 pm

    Yes! Imagine that…I just loved that you too posted about this yesterday 🙂 Have a wonderful light-filled week!

  7. Kelli- AdventurezNchildRearing says

    May 24, 2012 at 8:35 am

    yes yes! love it- love is what makes us shine! 🙂

  8. Laura Boggess says

    May 24, 2012 at 8:46 am

    I am so grateful that Light dispels dark. What good news that is in this life! Thank you for these encouraging words, Jacque?

  9. Jacque Watkins says

    May 24, 2012 at 8:59 am

    Yes! Love…

  10. Jacque Watkins says

    May 24, 2012 at 9:00 am

    Yes! Good news indeed 🙂

Trackbacks

  1. Because It’s All About the Illustrations & Their Principles :: Sermon on the Mount {Week 10} | Mercy Found Me says:
    June 13, 2012 at 5:09 pm

    […] in and You’re Not Feeling Accepted {Week 5} ~Because You Are Meant to BE the Flavor {Week 6} ~We ARE the Light of the World  {Week 7} ~All Has Been Accomplished! The New Covenant Has Come {Week 8} ~For When You Think It’s Only […]

  2. For When You Encounter Prickly People :: Sermon on the Mount {Week 11} | Mercy Found Me says:
    June 20, 2012 at 10:34 am

    […] in and You’re Not Feeling Accepted {Week 5} ~Because You Are Meant to BE the Flavor {Week 6} ~We ARE the Light of the World  {Week 7} ~All Has Been Accomplished! The New Covenant Has Come {Week 8} ~For When You Think It’s Only […]

  3. What to Do When Someone Is Upset With You :: Sermon on the Mount {Week 12} | Mercy Found Me says:
    June 25, 2012 at 11:52 pm

    […] in and You’re Not Feeling Accepted {Week 5} ~Because You Are Meant to BE the Flavor {Week 6} ~We ARE the Light of the World  {Week 7} ~All Has Been Accomplished! The New Covenant Has Come {Week 8} ~For When You Think It’s Only […]

  4. Holiness is a Matter of the Heart :: Sermon on the Mount {Week 13} | Mercy Found Me says:
    July 2, 2012 at 11:29 pm

    […] in and You’re Not Feeling Accepted {Week 5} ~Because You Are Meant to BE the Flavor {Week 6} ~We ARE the Light of the World  {Week 7} ~All Has Been Accomplished! The New Covenant Has Come {Week 8} ~For When You Think It’s Only […]

  5. The Thorns Beneath the Smile {Why Our Answers Should Simply Be Yes or No} :: Sermon on the Mount {Week 16 & 17} | Mercy Found Me says:
    August 1, 2012 at 3:22 pm

    […] in and You’re Not Feeling Accepted {Week 5} ~Because You Are Meant to BE the Flavor {Week 6} ~We ARE the Light of the World  {Week 7} ~All Has Been Accomplished! The New Covenant Has Come {Week 8} ~For When You Think It’s Only […]

  6. The Change of Learning to Love Like He Loves :: Sermon on the Mount {Week 20-22} - Mercy Found MeMercy Found Me says:
    September 5, 2012 at 11:28 pm

    […] in and You’re Not Feeling Accepted {Week 5} ~Because You Are Meant to BE the Flavor {Week 6} ~We ARE the Light of the World  {Week 7} ~All Has Been Accomplished! The New Covenant Has Come {Week 8} ~For When You Think It’s Only […]

  7. For When You Think It's Only About Following the Rules :: Sermon on the Mount {Week 9} - Jacque Watkins says:
    May 26, 2014 at 10:42 pm

    […] in and You’re Not Feeling Accepted {Week 5} ~Because You Are Meant to BE the Flavor {Week 6} ~We ARE the Light of the World  {Week 7} ~All Has Been Accomplished! The New Covenant Has Come {Week […]

  8. flat wedding says:
    October 9, 2015 at 3:32 am

    flat wedding

    We ARE the Light of the World :: Sermon on the Mount Week 7 – Jacque Watkins

  9. Bible Blog says:
    May 19, 2017 at 6:36 pm

    Light The World God Blessings

    […] and, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shi […]

Join the Community!

For periodic hope, encouragement and inspiration, it'd be a gift to be friends! Just enter your name and email address here...

Donate to Mud Stories

Listen to Mud Stories

Our Story

More Posts Here…

For When It Is a Challenge to Love

What I Learned {March 2014}

Mended :: The Root of Brokenness {Week 4}

Sponsor a child

Hi and welcome! I'm a Grace-clinger, Mercy-lover, wife, and mom to five ... a writer, part-time labor & delivery nurse, and podcaster of Mud Stories, who believes we are so very loved, and never, ever alone! I'm so very glad you're here! Read more about me here...

  • Home
  • About
  • Podcast
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Home
  • About
  • Podcast
  • Blog
  • Contact

Copyright © 2025 · Jacque Watkins · All Rights Reserved