Let It Shine
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16
“Let your light shine before others!” What a simple but powerful statement and command. As He was teaching, Jesus directed us to allow our light to shine to others. He is not referring to our human nature or attributes, but the essence of Christ that is in us! In John 8:12, it declares that Jesus is the “Light of the world,” and those who follow Him will have it. You will receive His Spirit, the Holy Spirit that resides in you, Who is the light source within us.
So, why did Jesus direct us to “Let your light shine before others?” As Jesus willingly and freely gives His Spirit to those who repent and receive Him as Lord, this Light does not automatically shine to others. You have a choice to make. Some may want their faith to be a private matter, choosing to cover it with a basket. Or you can be obedient and willing and make your faith public! Jesus does not want secret agents but known ambassadors (2 Cor 5:20).
I encourage you to take inventory within by asking yourself, what do others see in me? Does my family see His Light through me, do my friends, how about my co-workers? How about the stranger at the grocery store or at the local restaurant, are they able to see His Light through me?
I am in no-way advocating “Bible thumping” or a religious agenda. But rather, I’m encouraging us to be genuine, humble and allow His Spirit to be expressed through us to others. When they encounter you, they see something different, they experience something that can only come from the Father!
So, as you start your day, have you become a secret agent and covered up His Light? Or are you an open ambassador and letting His light shine? I say, let it shine!!
“For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’” Acts 13:47