WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE!

I have always enjoyed listening to and singing the song that says “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine…”; however, I didn’t know it was going to be so hard to let this light of mine shine. I mean, how hard can it be to let light shine?

The older I get, the more I learn about my light. I’ve learned that I need to keep on shining and not let others dim my light, even when it gets hard. I’ve also learned that there is so much more to this light than just my talents and gifts.

When you look at a light in a room, it shines brightly. And the higher the lumen count, the brighter the light output is. However, no matter how high the light output is, its ability to shine brightly depends on an essential component: a filament. A filament, by definition, is a very thin, slender, flexible, thread-like fiber or wire, and also refers to the glowing tungsten wire in light bulbs. It is the part that converts electricity into light. This very thin, flexible, thread-like fiber is the most essential component in light bulbs. That’s why no matter how cute a lamp may look in a room, if its light bulb has no filament, it cannot illuminate the room.

I remember as a kid how it used to bother me that my parents got rid of light bulbs that looked intact. To me, this was such a waste because there is nothing wrong with the glass bulbs; they are not broken, so why throw them away? And they would say they are no longer useful because the filament is broken.

Now, let’s consider when Jesus talked to His disciples about light/lamp. Here, Jesus uses a light/lamp as an analogy, saying to them, “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.” There area few things we need to take into consideration when reading this text. Notice herethat Jesus didn’t specify whether the light meant their talents and/or gifts, nor can we assume that when He said that to them, He was only referring to talents and gifts. Also, we must keep in mind that at that time, the disciples were not even familiar with what Jesus was talking about. They had not yet received any spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit until the day of Pentecost. Yet Jesus demands that they shine their light before others. So, what light was He talking about then? Another thing to take into consideration is that Jesus did not specify who He was referring to when He said ‘others’. Was it the “Pharisees/Sadducees”, “family members”, “church members”, “other fishermen/co-workers”, or “friends”? So, who are considered ‘others’?

Now, let’s suppose that ‘my light’ meant my talents and gifts. So, if I’m a photographer or a baker and I work in an office, does shining my light mean I have to start taking pictures of everyone and everything at that office, or run a baking class at my job? Well, I’m sure you already know what would happen to me if I were to do that. So then, how do I still shine the light that Jesus is expecting me to shine there? In other words, what good deeds can I offer there if I can’t do what I’m good at?

If we go a little further with what Jesus said, we will realize that there are other things that He had said after He had mentioned the purpose of a light in a room. In Mark 4: 22 for instance, Jesus said, “For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.” And in Luke 8: 17, it says it like this: “For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.” The words ‘hidden’ and ‘concealed’ in both verses mean to keep something out of sight or keep it secret. So, according to Jesus, when we let our light shine before others, two things are happening. When we let our light shine, there is nothing that is kept secret that will not be disclosed, and there is nothing that won’t be brought out into the open. If He says there is nothing that is hidden, this includes, but is not limited to, talents and gifts. So, using our lights exposes everything that is kept secret. No wonder Scripture says in 1 Peter 2:9, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.” So, the reason why we got the light in the first place is a result of being called out of darkness. Therefore, we have to proclaim the praises of that light, which also means to shine that light wherever we go. Now, it makes more sense as to why Jesus asked the disciples to shine their light because they were already called out of the darkness, even before they received their spiritual gifts from the Spirit.

So now the question is, how do we shine that light?

We shine that light of ours by exposing what we were called out of and declaring the praises of who got us out of it. So, we need to praise God and expose the works of darkness. Let’s read what Paul says here concerning darkness. It’s a little lengthy, but very important. So, please bear with me and let’s read it. Ephesians 5: 11-14 NIV, which says, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

So, if the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth, this means that God is calling us to a life of righteousness. Therefore, I believe we can all agree that the light that we have to shine has more to do with righteous living than anything else. Lastly, let’s find out what the works of darkness are because we cannot expose something we may not know.

So, what are the works of darkness?

The answer can be found in Colossians 3:1-17.

I know for some of us it is easier to read it right then and there instead of having to look for it. So, I will type the verses for you here. It is understandable if you don’t want to do that much reading, but I just want to make sure you have it at your disposal just in case. Happy reading! 🤗😊

Colossians 3: 1-17 NIV

1. Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 
2. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 
3. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 
4. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 
5. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry. 
6. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 
7. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 
8. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 
9. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 
10. and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 
11. Here, there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. 
12. Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 
13. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 
14. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 
15. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 
16. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 
17. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

SCRIPTURE

“Be very careful, then, how you live, not as unwise but wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” Ephesians 5: 15-18

“And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into this world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed.” John 3:19-20