30 Days of Prayer for the Harvest
Day 11 – Thursday, January 22, 2026
Read Matthew 5:13-16.
The last two days we have considered Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5:13, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.”
Salt is a picture of the seasoning, preserving, and purifying influence we are to have in this world as believers. Jesus then continued with another metaphor, saying,
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16).
What does light do? It drives out darkness. Darkness cannot coexist with even a little bit of light. And the darker the darkness, the brighter the light appears. Jesus teaches His disciples, “You are the light of the world.” (Matt. 5:14).
Jesus also said that He was the light of the world. Jesus said in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” Again, in John 9:5, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Later He told the people who were doubting Him, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does no know where he is going. While you have light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light” (John 12:35-35). Jesus was the light of the world. He came to bring the light of life to those in darkness. But the time was coming when He would leave the world. Would that mean the light was gone?
No, because Jesus also calls His disciples the light of the world. Wht does He mean? Well, He certainly doesn’t mean that we are the light of the world in the same way that He was, because He alone is the true light. Rather, it means that, now that He is gone from the world and has returned to His Father in heaven, we are the bearers of His light in the world.
Maybe in a similar way that the moon reflects the light of the sun, the church now serves to ‘reflect’ the light of Him who is the true light. He shines on us; and we shine on the world. Paul wrote, “For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus” (2 Cor. 4:6).
The light of Christ illumines our hearts so that we understand and love the truth of the gospel. But we were never meant to keep the gospel light to ourselves. Think about that, and we will consider more from these verses tomorrow.
Today’s Prayer
Father, thank You for Jesus, the Light of the World. Thank You for shining the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ in my heart and mind. Thank you giving me the light of life through faith in Him. Thank You for taking me out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light in Christ. Thank You for illuminating the scriptures by Your Holy Spirit so that I can live in the light as He is in the light. By Your light, everything else in this world becomes much more clear. Your light illumines what is hidden.
Father, cause the light of Christ to shine from me into the lives of others. May You bring them out of darkness into the light by the power of Your Spirit and Your word of truth.
Amen.
Today’s Action
Have you had an opportunity to shine the light of Christ? Would you please comment and share it with me? It’s an encouragement to hear what God is doing.
