Don’t Hide Your Light Today, Let It Shine!
By May Patterson
Bible Reading:
“Don’t hide your light! Let it shine for all; let your good deeds glow for all to see, so that they will praise your heavenly Father.” Matthew 5:16 TLB
The firefly’s only purpose (that I know of) is to shine its light in the dark. But does it know how beautiful its light is?
No.
The firefly doesn’t know how shining its one little light produces a wondrous spark in the inky darkness. It can’t see how its light combines with the lights of its pals to make a summer night beautiful.
No, the firefly has no concept of any of these things. It simply shines. And when it does, it fulfills its God-given role.
Maybe we’re like that.
As Christians, we also have a light to shine. It may not seem grand, or important, or impactful—and maybe, it’s not. But when you do what God calls you to do, when you take on an opportunity He places in your path, it provides light, beauty, and even a bit of wonder to our dark world.
If we all let our lights shine, it would be quite a show.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
So, what does it mean to “shine your light?” Here are a few ideas:
- Recognize that you don’t have to produce the light, you simply have to reflect it. So, spend some time with the Lord today. Ask Him to make His face shine upon you and to fill you with His beautiful light.
- Then go out today and shine! Simply let the Lord’s light overflow from your heart. You can do this by reflecting God’s character in all that you do.
Shine brightly today:
By valuing your children.
By respecting your neighbor.
By helping a tired mother carry her load.
By upholding your marriage vows.
By being kind.
By expressing gratitude to God and to others.
By striving for purity in your speech and thoughts.
By sacrificing for your family without complaining.
By forgiving someone who has wronged you.
By praising the Lord throughout your day.
As you reflect God’s character, you will shine out like a star against the utter darkness of the world. Shining your light brings light, beauty and love into places that desperately need it.
The Bible says:
“. . . Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.” Philemon 2:14 NLT
Like the firefly, you may never realize how beautiful your light is. You may never see how it impacts others. You may never grasp how it fulfills God’s purpose. But that doesn’t matter. Simply let your light shine today.
And if we all do that, it will be quite a show.
Further Reading:
Daniel 12:2-4
Philemon 2:14-16
1 John 1:5-7
Photo Credit: © Unsplash/Josh Boot
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Welcome to this special bonus episode of the Jesus Calling Podcast, inspired by the topical themes from Sarah Young’s seasonal prayer devotional Jesus Listens: Prayers for Every Season. Today, we are featuring guests who speak to themes that all of us might be experiencing in this season of winter. As the days grow shorter and the night longer, we are offered a rare gift: permission to stop. This season can be a challenging time for many, and if you are struggling with low spirits, please know you are not alone, and help is available. This episode is an opportunity to honor your weariness, to resist the urge to rush, and to discover the profound healing that happens when we simply let ourselves rest in the stillness. If you like what you hear, be sure to follow Jesus Calling on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
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