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Let Your Light Shine

“It's night. The thunder is rolling and lightning flashes all around. Suddenly the electricity goes off. It is dark and Lucy cannot see in her room. She finds a flashlight in the dark. She turns it on and puts it on a table. The light breaks the darkness and she can see. Then she gets out a big bowl and puts it over the flashlight.” Stop the story. That doesn't seem right! Can Lucy see anything with a bowl over her flashlight?

This story helps us understand an illustration that Jesus used in His Sermon on the Mount.

Matthew 5:14-15
“You are the light of the world. A city 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.”

Jesus is saying that we are the flashlights that are shining the light. How are we able to shine light? When Jesus was a baby, He had His naming ceremony and Simeon the priest was there. When he saw and held Jesus he said,

Luke 2:32
“For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people. A light for revelation to the Gentiles…”

Jesus is the light that reveals God's way of salvation to all people. Jesus wants to shine His light through us to tell others of the salvation available through Him. We shine Jesus' light when we share our faith in Him. We shine Jesus' light when we help others.

Even though, Jesus gives us the light, we sometimes find ways NOT to shine. We do this by hiding under a bowl. What bowls do we put over our flashlights? Is “being afraid” one of the bowls? Is “failing” when we try to help others one of the bowls? How about being “too busy” to take time for others? Could that be our bowl?

Jesus continues,

Matthew 5:16
“In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise you Father in heaven.”

Jesus' words tell us not to help others so we can receive congratulations. He says we help others so that they may see who the Father in heaven is. So they may see that this Father loved us so much He gave His only son to die for us. We help others that they may see this love in us.

Listen to someone who needs to talk. Let your light shine!
Make sure a new person at your church feels comfortable. Let your light shine!
Take food to someone who is unable to leave their home. Let your light shine!
Please do something to let your light shine!