Stepping Stones for Victorious Christ Centered Living #21: Being The City That Cannot Be Hidden

Being Who We Are To Make A Difference

A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Jesus

Matthew 5: 14b

In Matthew 5 Jesus describes His Disciples 3 ways: We already discussed one that keeps us walking on Stepping Stones for Victorious Christ-Centered Living, and that is we are the "Salt of The Earth."  Sandwiched in the middle is the one that can be missed rather easily. He comes right out and says the other two by declaring who we are, and this one is simply described but does not include the "You are" statement; nevertheless, the importance of this stepping stone is something we do not want to ignore. And it is a fact what He says about this city. It CANNOT be hidden. 

When We Were In Italy

A number of years ago, we lived in Italy, and sometimes we traveled on the Supra Strada. It was called, by my Italian friends,  "the poor man's freeway." You see on the Supra Strada, you paid no tolls, but on the Auto Strada you paid fairly high tolls.  At any rate, the Supra Strada took a more circuitous route, and it took you up in the mountains. There were stretches of road that had no guard rails; therefore, it wasn't quite as safe to travel; however, one real blessing was, as we drove through the mountains, we would sometimes see a significant size town up in those mountains. Actually, we were blessed to see a few of them while we lived there.  One thing that struck me about each "City on The Hill" was that it definitely could not be hidden. When I saw my first one, this passage of Jesus came to mind.

The Structure & Purpose of The "City on The Hill"

There was something very distinctive about how each of these "Cities" were laid out.  They tended to have some kind of wall around them. Then there was a major road that went straight up into the mountain.  There were multiple streets feeding off this main street, and it was on these streets people came into this mountain town to either get their supplies for their agricultural homes or sell their product.  Theses places were significantly off the main thoroughfare. Needless to say these clearly seen towns served the purpose of making sure people could live quality lives.  The main road that I mentioned went strait up to the top of the town. And at the top was a building that clearly was a Church.  People, ultimately went their for daily Mass or other spiritual practices.  Everyone driving by that "City" was aware the Church stood out among all the buildings. There was no mistaking this Sacred Space for any other City Place. And people needed everything this "cities" offered to their culture. These Cities made a difference, as they stood out on those mountain sides. And there was NO hiding it.

Jesus's Calling On Your Life.

This short little verse of Matthew 5:14b, that seems tucked away, really is a description of Jesus Stepping Stones For Victorious Christ Centered Living.  It is the calling of every "Saint" or child of God.  He calls you. He calls me. He doesn't care if you have a Bible College BA. He doesn't care if you have a Masters of Divinity or a Doctorate.  He has created you and me, as a Children of God, to make a difference in people's lives! He especially wants us to stand out as the Church where people will come in and out of our lives to learn about our Lord Jesus and how He is The Way, The Truth and the Life, and that no one can go to the father except through Him.  And they can only get to The Father by coming through you, as the Holy Spirit draws them to you.

Your Challenge

Don't try to hide who your are! Don't let the fear placed on you by the evil one, keep you from making a difference in those around you. BE who the Lord has called you to be.  Don't put on a show, but let your life be available to be a person people know that they can learn, from you, about the things of God. Be the person willing to help supply the needs of people who need you.  Be the person that others want to come to. BE "The City on a Hill" that cannot be hidden. If you let Him, God WILL give you the grace to do so.