Let Your Light Shine!

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably participated in the Total Eclipse in some form or fashion. So, it’s totally cool that I already anticipated talking about “light” this week. Isn’t it neat how that “lined up” with the eclipse!!

Our lives can be compared to an eclipse. We’re supposed to let our lights shine. The light that has been put in us, by Jesus, needs to be shared with those around us. But sometimes something can block us from shining that light just like the moon passing between the earth and the sun.

Last week, we talked about all the different purposes of salt and how we can be useful like salt. Light, however, is subject to many variables. Sharing ideas from the same book, Finding the Way, Lori found some interesting facts about light. She says,

“Pure salt is good for its purpose. If salt becomes contaminated and cannot serve it purpose, it needs to be thrown out. Light is different in that, light’s effectiveness is subject to outside influences. However, if light is still weak, it still gives off light.”

Jesus is the light shining through us, and it will never go out. But, we can block that light or dim it or keep it from shining its brightest in us.Maybe it’s a sin you struggle with constantly. Maybe it’s hurt or pain from your past. Maybe it’s a toxic or negative person. Is it your job that you hate or your family that is so crazy? It could be physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual. It could be you or it could be others affecting you. It could be your circumstances or just plain ole’ mean people.  No matter what it is, it can block the light from shining through you.

Matthew 5:14-16 says ¹⁴ “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”

We shouldn’t hide the light of Jesus or block it. By the way we live out our lives with good deeds, we are letting His light shine. Furthermore, we don’t shine His Light so that others can see us and think how awesome we are. We shine His Light by our good deeds so that everyone can see how awesome God is!

Do you mess up letting His Light shine through you? Yep, I do too.

My selfish attitude can flare up. My patience runs thin. I can snap at the kids or yell at the slow driver in front on me. I can be tired or hormonal. There are so many times when I dim His Light by my fleshly deeds.

There is hope!

Colossians 1:15-20 says Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.
    He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,^[e]
16 for through him God created everything
    in the heavenly realms and on earth.
He made the things we can see
    and the things we can’t see—
such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.
    Everything was created through him and for him.
¹⁷ He existed before anything else,
    and he holds all creation together.
¹⁸ Christ is also the head of the church,
    which is his body.
He is the beginning,
    supreme over all who rise from the dead.^[f]
    So he is first in everything.
¹⁹ For God in all his fullness
    was pleased to live in Christ,
²⁰ and through him God reconciled
    everything to himself.
He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth
    by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.

Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God.  I find strength and power in the reassurance that Jesus holds all of creation together. Everything was created through him and for him. God reconciled everything to himself. Jesus is the Light.

It’s not my job to be the Light. I’m just supposed to take what Christ has done in me and share the Light to others!!! What exciting news! Sure, I’ve got to be an active participant in allowing God to grow me and purify me, making sure those things that eclipse His Light are cleared away and removed. He is doing the work in me as I am shining His Light for him!

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine!

Hide it under a bushel, NO! I”m gonna let it shine.

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!!!!

~Amy