A Little Light
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:7
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. Matthew 5:14-16
Insight
A little light makes a big difference to its surroundings.
I recently learned this lesson the hard way when I tackled something off my "honey-do list:" replacing the light bulbs in the bathroom. I put in three new bulbs of what wattage I did not know and then flipped the switch back on. And, just like Bruce Springsteen once sang, I was blinded by the light.
I closed my eyes and wondered if I was still alive or if God had called my number, allowed me to pass go, and sent me to "the good place." Everything went white as the darkroom instantly became consumed by light. Slowly but surely, I attempted to open my eyes. I squinted at first until I adjusted to the new view.
I'll repeat it...a little light makes a big difference to its surroundings.
During the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5), Jesus hoped a light bulb went off in the disciples' minds regarding their influence. Unfortunately, in the broken world we live in, people don't have to look very far to see darkness. Injustices, racism, political divide, and senseless tragedies consume the news while anger, cynicism, and disagreements liter our social media feeds.
One of the reasons why I was so startled when the lights came on was familiarity. I had grown accustomed to brushing my teeth by the pale moonlight. It became my regular. And, for many in our world, our eyes (and hearts) have adjusted to complacency and status quo. We spend our days stumbling in the darkness because we know no different. It's normal. What has been, will always be.
By living differently, we are, in essence, flipping the switch.
Orienting our lives around Christ's love allows His light to break through everything we touch. We become a beacon of hope and humility in an age of doubt and pride. We serve as a lantern that illuminates a path toward a better way. We light a lamp that ignites others to consider the cross.
Reflection
What are you doing with the light Christ placed within you?
How can you illuminate Christ to those around you?
Prayer
God, let my light shine today. May everything I say or do reflect encountering Your love. Allow me to display the hope I have in You to those around me. In Your name, Jesus. Amen.