Light of the Gentiles

Acts 13:47 - For so the Lord has commanded us, “I have set you as a light of the Gentiles, that you would be for salvation unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Note from the Holy Bible Recovery Version This word is a quotation from Isa. 49:6, which refers to Christ as God’s Servant, whom God made a light to the Gentiles that His salvation might reach to the end of the earth. Because he was one with Christ in carrying out God’s salvation in Christ, the apostle Paul applied this prophetic word to himself in his ministry of gospel preaching for the turning of the gospel from the Jews, because of their rejection, to the Gentiles. In His ministry on earth the Lord expressed the same thing to the stubborn Jews in Luke 4:24-27.

Light of the Gentiles, is a strong phrase that struck me deeply. Have I been so all these years of my Christian life and service? Not merely preaching the gospel in season and out of season, not merely shepherding the believers now and then, not merely praying for sinners' salvation, not merely living a normal Christian life in a normal church life, or not even merely being a light to the Gentiles, have I really been a light of the Gentiles? I hope that this is not an enigma to me. I must be able to say with full assurance that I am indeed a light of the Gentiles. This must be my testimony as the Lord commanded so. If such be the case, there need not be any struggling in bring men to Christ. When we are the light itself, by definition, light shines! When light shines it dispels all darkness and needs no reasoning. It simply shines and dispels all darkness. For this is the nature and effect of light. So much the more, the heaven, divine and spiritual light of God. 

People can argue with claims of truth, but never with light. By being one with Christ as the great Light, we are the light of the Gentiles. Through growth in life and the dispensing of the divine light into us, gradually, our person and work are becoming one. As we become one with Christ, then we become light itself. Paul's ministry was the ministry of light. So must our ministry be. He was one with Christ to such an extend that he became one with the Light, in fact, light itself.

When the Lord was on the earth He was the Light. 

John 8:12 - Again therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall by no means walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. 

The Lord in Himself is the light of the world. The Lord in us makes us the light of the world. As believers who are growing and becoming one with Him, the Light, we are the light of the world. In fact,  we become light itself. 

Matt. 5:14 - You are the light of the world. It is impossible for a city situated upon a mountain to be hidden.

Eph. 5:8-10 - For you were once darkness but are now light in the Lord; walk as children of light (For the fruit of the light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), proving what is well pleasing to the Lord.

As we do pray for the light to shine on the Gentiles, much more we must pray that we become the light of God to shine on the Gentiles; God’s light shining in us and through us. This has been my burden and prayer as I pray and care for many new believers and are endeavoring to preach the gospel to the Gentiles.

Lord, may such be our testimony as Christians!