You are the light that gives light to the world. A city that is built on a hill cannot be hidden. And people don’t hide a light under a bowl. They put it on a lampstand so the light shines for all the people in the house. In the same way, you should be a light for other people. Live so that they will see the good things you do and will praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16 NCV
We live in a world that is frequently defined as dark. Easy to see why. The news on any day of the week tells us all about the hostility, anger, and pain in the world around us. It can feel and be overwhelming if we let it. Jesus knew it. He knew that we could feel weak, scared, incapable, and then try to hide in the darkness. But when we chose to follow Him, He gave every single one of us His light so that we could be a living, breathing, walking display of the life He came to give.
He knows we are easily tempted to hide instead of shine that light. Maybe you sang that little song when you were a kid, “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine!” The verse that asks, “Hide it under a bushel? No! I’m gonna let it shine!” was drawn from these words of Jesus. He said people don’t hide a light under a bowl. No, when people have a light, they put it on a stand so it can fulfill the purpose for which it was made – to dispel darkness. Jesus gives each of His followers His light so that we can attract and inspire others to seek His light as well.
This is how we live a purposeful life, Jesus-style. We begin to follow Jesus and let Him change us from the inside out. As His light grows within us, we live the rest of our lives knowing we are here for a reason. Our purpose is to shine the light we have into our dark world. Jesus talked about a city built on a hill. He said that city, made up of individual houses of light, would attract attention. It cannot be hidden.
We have a such a powerful purpose and ability on our own – shining the light around us into the bleak darkness. God will use us individually as we consistently shine, but our light gains untold brilliance as we gather together with others and blend our flames. What may seem small and perhaps insignificant singly becomes irresistible together.
We must shine our lights. God does not ask us to do anything beyond our capacity. The light of Jesus that is within us is bright enough to extinguish the darkness in the world.
- Jesus gave us a calling and a purpose – to shine brightly to draw people’s eyes to the light and seek God. So, the question is, am I shining or hiding? Does my light inspire people to seek God?