Church: More Than a Buildingნიმუში

The Church Is The City On A Hill

If you ever find yourself driving on Highway 71 through Kentucky, you will notice some hilly spots throughout your drive. The scenery of the trees, bushes, and animals on these hills brings back nostalgic memories of a “much simpler time.” The road winds up and down as you make your way north to Ohio. There is one spot, however, in Covington, Kentucky, where the trip takes you up on a large hill, and once you make a twist around the right side of that hill, you are met with an amazing view of Cincinnati. Especially at night, the view of that city up on that hill is beautiful. You could see it for miles around, being lit up like a torch!

Matthew 5:14 calls us to be the same way as we walk out our everyday life with Jesus. No, we are not supposed to be Cincinnati, Ohio; we are called to live a life that is set apart from the world.

Reflect

People are looking to you now, as a follower of Jesus, to see how you will act and react to certain situations. Let’s say you are passed over for a promotion. How would you respond? Do you react in anger with fits of rage, or do you calmly take a step back and pray before responding?

You see, when we follow Jesus and act/react like He has called us to, we are like that city on a hill. The Holy Spirit will shine through us in those moments. Like a beacon of hope unable to be hidden. It is proof that our life has been changed and is changing still to be more like Him. Because every day we are to continually live our life out for Him so people will see the goodness of God through us!

Respond

What are some ways that you can begin to look like Jesus? Now that you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you want everything that you do to honor Him. Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (ESV). We don’t act like Jesus or try to be good at something He has gifted us with so that people will praise us for a job well done. We do it so people will praise our Father in Heaven, like Matthew 5:16 says. That means all of our gifts, talents, and abilities are now to be used to bring glory to God, not to us. Like a city on a hill that can’t be hidden, people should look at us and only see Jesus.

Pray

Jesus, please remind me that I need to be more like You in all things and in all ways. I want all that I do to bring You glory. I want to be a mirror to others for You, so that when people look at me, all they see is You. Give me the courage and confidence in You to live out my life in an honoring way. In Your name I pray, amen.