You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are 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 in heaven. - Matthew 5:14-16
Have you ever found yourself looking at the gifting of another believer and felt inferior, or maybe even felt superior? Comparison is one of the biggest tools of the enemy to rob us of our peace and to keep us from unity in the body of Christ. For a simple illustration, let's take a look at light.
Look around the room you are in right now; there is some sort of light, whether from a fixture, a window or the digital screen you are using to read this devotional. Is there any way to make the room darker without turning off or covering one of these light sources? That is the funny thing about darkness, when light shines, darkness cannot over take it (John 1:5). Darkness cannot stand when light is present. But what about light? In the same room you are in right now, if you were to open curtains, flip on a light switch, or turn on a lamp, what would happen in the room? It would get brighter! Light actually increases when it joins forces with other light. And if we are the light of the world, what happens if we work together? Proverbs 4:18 says it this way, "The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day." We shine, and keep shining brighter!
So read the above passage from Matthew 5 again. In order for another person's light to shine, does your light have to diminish? If my light is going to be able to shine, does someone else's light have to lessen? Of course not! Light works together to give more light so let us come against the lies that keep us from working together. Let us shine for the glory of the Lord; all creation is waiting with expectation (Romans 8:19)!
Read more about the power of working together:
Matthew 18:19-21
Genesis 11:1-9