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You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:14-16, NIV).
The city of Philadelphia didn’t have lamp posts…
Europe had them, and Ben Franklin, while visiting cities in France, enjoyed walking at night and being able to see where he was walking and what he was stepping into.
Lighted streets with lamp posts seemed a no-brainer. But the idea didn’t generate enthusiasm with the leadership of the city.
One of the reasons streetlights in Europe didn’t work, even though they were lit every night, was the glass quickly become covered with soot, thus quenching the light.
Ben Franklin had a better idea and developed a streetlamp with enough air circulation to provide light through clean glass.
Still no takers.
So, Franklin put one of his lights on a lamp post outside his house.
His house now stood out among other homes. People started walking on his side of the street and, before long, began putting Franklin’s lamp posts outside their own homes. First, Philadelphia had lamp posts, and then other cities throughout the colonies.
Today, every city in the U.S.A. has lamp posts!
The Early Church…
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common.
They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.
And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:42-47).
Jesus said to all of us…
I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness but will have the Light of life (John 8:12).