Jesus is our light and we are a light to the world. It’s hard to be a light when you don’t spend time in God’s presence because we reflect His light, not our own.

Light has always been important to me, as I get especially irritated when the power goes off and we are left in the dark. Nowadays, I am up several times during the night to go into the kitchen and retrieve a new ice pack from the freezer. I always wake up several times each night to go to the bathroom, but now when I wake up, my shoulder lets me know that it’s not happy, so I go get ice to soothe it. I am so thankful for the light that shows me the way to the kitchen and also lets me get the ice pack out without dropping other things from the freezer. That light is important to me because I need it to finish the task I have set for myself.

The light that Jesus gives to us and that we shine for others is important, too. We live in a very dark world, and it seems to be darker every day. Man’s depravity seems to be on the increase and that depravity likes to hide in the shadows, in the darkness. When we shine our lights, others can see it and may be able to recognize the sin and depravity for what it is. When we hide our lights, we are depriving the world of the hope that Jesus offers to a dark and dying world.

Children sing a song about shining their lights, but it isn’t just for children to do. In fact, all who call themselves a Christian should be shining brightly for the Lord and for the world to see, every day, all the time.