Let It Shine
Have you ever tried to hide a source of light? Perhaps, in your younger days, you hid a flashlight under a blanket during a living room camping extravaganza! I have a nightlight in every room in my home for safety because I awake often throughout the night. My sons jokingly tell me that our home is well lit for any intruders that might stop by. One particular night I remembered the bulb burned out in the night light. The room was dark. The only light available in the room was a small dot on my sleep apnea machine. That little dot of light was enough for me to see.
When you walk into a dark room, you cannot see the lamp sitting in the corner. But if the lamp is lit, nobody can mistake its location. The benefits of its light are available to anyone who enters the room.
Jesus said in Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV) – “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.”
Did you notice what Jesus said about his disciples? Not we will be the light, but we are light. In the present—today. Not sometime in the future, but NOW! Being light to a world of darkness begins with having God’s Spirit living inside of us. It begins each day when our feet hit the floor. We get the opportunity to let Jesus in us SHINE!
Jesus made a bold statement about the condition of this world when He referred to us as being its source of light. He said that as long as He was in the world He was the “light” of the world (John 9:5). Christians are the Body of Christ and are representatives of Christ on the earth. We are His “ambassadors” (2 Corinthians 5:20). Therefore, if His light is to shine, it must shine through us. We are His hands and feet.
Many people think the world is becoming a dark place. The world has always been in darkness. In the beginning, God began with darkness and created the light (Genesis 1:1-4; John 1:4-5). People are born in spiritual darkness and remain in that darkness until they encounter the light of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Disciples are ready in season and out of season (2 Timothy 4:2), whether by word or deed, to illuminate the world with the message of God . . . JESUS SAVES!
To illuminate a light bulb you need a lamp and a power source. Plug in the lamp to the electrical outlet and light appears! Likewise, if disciples plug into Jesus who is the believer’s power source, everyone around them notices it. When God’s people love and serve Him passionately, others will be able to tell. You can’t mistake a Jesus freak!
Jesus is the ultimate power source. Acts 1:8 (NLT) says, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere…”. Some Christians want the power but deny the Spirit (2 Timothy 3:5). Disciples want both. This portion of Scripture in Acts tells us that we receive the Spirit first and then the power comes! You can’t get to home plate without passing first, second and third base. Believers that are not plugged into the power source of Christ have only an appearance of godliness.
The Apostle Paul let his light shine and penned these words in a dark place, in a Philippian prison. “ Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain (Philippians 2:14-16, NIV).”
Who are YOU plugged in to?
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine, let it shine, LET IT SHINE!