Letting Your Light Shine for Jesus
Letting your light shine doesn’t happen without effort. As I learn, I make mental notes of my epic failures. You know. The unpublished masterpieces meant to shine for Jesus that couldn’t light up a small cardboard box.
That got me thinking about ways to let your light shine.
I say, “It’s a new day—that was then, this is now.” As a member of the human race and Christianity, I get to suck at life and being a child of God. Maybe not always, but a lot of the time. Guess what? Jesus still loves me when I walk the same worn-out path of disbelief, unforgiveness, or impatience. Here’s what Jesus does when we mess up and don’t shine for Him.
HE FIXES BREAKFAST. THEN HE ASSIGNS US A MINISTRY.
The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread” (John 21:8-9).
This is the third time Jesus appears before the disciples after His death and resurrection. Peter failed epically. He denied his Lord and Master three times, publicly. Jesus didn’t say to Peter, “Wow, you really blew it. There’s no way you’re fit to be a Christian.” Jesus lovingly reinstates Peter and gives him a ministry to feed God’s sheep—us, along with a side order of fish and bread. What a Savior!
That leads us to the spoiler alert. Every child of God already has everything inside to shine for Jesus.
Letting Your Light Shine: You’re Made to Glow!
- You know Jesus because you belong to Him. “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God” (John 1:12-13).
- His light illuminates you. Once you become a Christian, you shine from the inside out. “Everything exposed by the light becomes visible – and everything that is illuminated becomes a light” (Ephesians 5:13). The people I write about in “God On the Back Pew” are learning how to shine as they meet with God.
- You prefer light instead of darkness. “You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.” (1 Thessalonians 5:5) Have you ever noticed a sold-out, on-fire for Jesus Christian migrates toward light while others prefer the security of darkness? Look around the next time you’re strolling through a marketplace and notice the beacons on patrol.
- You love the Son because you love God. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment” (Matthew 22:37-38).
- The Spirit of God tells you that you’re a child of God. “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory” (Romans 8:16-17).
Did you catch those last words – share in his glory? That means God is okay with you shining for Him!
Letting Your Light Shine or Not
I can hang back in the shadows and watch life go by or get out in front. God wants me—to be separated from darkness. God did that in Genesis 1:2-4:
Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.
Darkness was there, but God embraced the light. Have you ever had someone shine their light on your dirt (darkness)? They went about as a vessel of light whose rays shined onto you, without saying a word! The Holy Spirit made their light visible in your heart so you could take a look inside.
Light is the stuff of kings and priests, but that’s who you are. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen (Revelation 1:5-6).
Instead of longing to stay hidden in a dark room, I can come to the light and let God expose the truth, without condemnation. He’s so good at that! Then, He wants me to shine for others.
Letting Your Light Shine
But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.” (John 3:21 NIV)
“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12 NIV)
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. —Philippians 2:14-16.
Practical Ways For Letting Your Light Shine
- Live by the truth
- Follow Jesus and you won’t walk in darkness
- Let your light shine before others
- Be a blameless and innocent child of God
- Hold fast to the word of life – Jesus/scripture
When I step inside Wal-Mart, I’m confronted with faces that tell a story—frowns, stress, frustration, joy, loneliness, hatred. I am one face they see looking back.
I listen for the Holy Spirit to prompt me. “Go say an encouraging word. Compliment someone for their infectious smile. Help that person who looks confused find something in the store.” I may be the only person speaking a kind word to a person, in months. That small effort may bring light to a darkened soul. That light plants a seed God waters by sending a second or third person. You’ll never know the impact your light has on another person.
Here’s a simple truth. If what grows inside you isn’t light, then it’s darkness. “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth” (1 John 1:5-6).
You’ll give out to others whatever lives inside of you—the most. Others are looking for credible children of God that line up their lives with God and His Word. People watch and notice what you say, do, and how you appear. Do what God did. Overcome darkness with light. Shine on!