Jesus said to disciples:
“You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 People do not light a lamp and put it under a basket but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven” (The NET Bible®, Matthew 5:14-16).
Light. It’s something we all need for life, health and pleasure. And truthfully, as summer clearly indicates, many love the longer days, the warmth of the sun and everything that light brings.
So when Jesus uses these common pictures of light as a metaphor of what God’s people are to be, what is it that he wanted for light to mean to us?
He calls us to a life where righteousness is displayed and visible. Even though we are to “show all good faith so that [we] will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect” (Titus 2:10), some people still hide their light. Maybe we hide because we are embarrassed of what light is or we prefer to be seen as people of the world. Either way, it’s not what Jesus wants you and me to be.
And He calls us to a life where, not only are we visible to all, there is one sole purpose and motive: to glorify God who is in heaven. Some people go to the other extreme. Rather than hiding their light, they glare their light. Like a blinded deer in headlights, we are stunned in amazement at “all the good” they do, “all the things” they have accomplished, “all the Bible” they know, “all the people” they are “in” with and on and on. We almost want to be hit by the truck first when they first see them coming to glare their light into our faces. While they may think they glorify God in their bragging, the fact is most cannot even see God through the glaring light.
So, letting your light shine is about sharing that light with others. What Jesus says is “Let your light shine before men.” He said, “Let” it. Allow people to see it. Don’t hide it. Don’t parade it in glaring majesty but share it. Let it __ glow. It seems to me that the point Jesus makes is that people committed to the gospel righteousness He describes will work to live out this life of light. And happily, they will glow or radiate righteousness and people will glorify God.
It is easily discouraging to witness believers who glare or hide their righteousness. It happens all the time. For us, however, whether it is through the quietness of your voice, the calmness of your spirit, the tenderness of your touch or the embrace of your arm, share your light and let it glow and God will be glorified.
Don’t hide your light; will cheat people of the life, health and pleasure that godliness brings. Don’t glare your light either; it will cheat God of His glory. Just share your light. Feel good in the skin of righteousness and let others see your glow.
– by Don Hooton