How to Let Your Light Shine

“This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine…” We’ve all heard the song, but have we really stopped to think about what it means to let our light shine? Have we thought about exactly what that would look like in real life? Matthew 5:14-16 tells us that we are the light of the world, and explains that “A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” From this, we learn that our good works are the means for how we are to let our light shine.

In many places in Scripture, we are commanded to love others. Yahshua states, “I give you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, so you also must love each other. This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, when you love each other” (John 13:34-35). Our Father in heaven is so loving, that he doesn’t just give us this command and send us off, he goes a step further and supplies the means to do it, “He has given us the holy spirit to fill our hearts with His love” (Romans 5:5). And this is where the Pharisees, the Jewish leaders in Yahshua’s day, fell short. This is what they were lacking. This is what separates Christians from the rest of the world. Our ability to love others, which we receive through the holy spirit that has been given to us, makes us unique. We are called to follow the commands of God, yes, but the issues of the heart are what Yahshua calls the “weightier matters of the law”  (Matthew 23:23). In this verse, he commends the Pharisees for tithing like they should, but he rebukes them for neglecting to love others, by not showing them compassion through justice and mercy. Remember, love is a verb. It is our actions, our good deeds towards others that equates to us loving them: taking the time to help a neighbor in need; helping them financially, if you can; taking the time to listen and pray with a neighbor when they are hurting; opening your home to others to build relationships. These are ways that we love others. This is what we are commanded to do above everything else except for loving our God with all our heart. But then again, 1 John 5:3 says, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments,” so we find that the two are inseparable. In following the command to love others, we are showing our love for God.

When we piece this all together, we understand that we let our light shine by loving others with our good works toward them. It is not natural to love others the way that we are called to, and that is why we need the holy spirit in us to help us with this critical task. But this is the key to everything. This is what separates us from those who don’t know our savior. This love is what shines so brightly that it can’t be missed. It’s not about thumping your Bible and telling people all the things they are doing wrong. It’s about showing them the love of God. There are many preconceived notions about Christians passed to the people through the media today. The best way to get around the lies that have been told about who Christians are, is to love everyone around you. Be giving with your time and your money. Spend your time loving others, and when they do eventually find out that you are Christian, your Father in heaven will be glorified. They will know that what they’ve heard about you as a Christian is a lie, and they will then understand where your light comes from and be more open to receiving it themselves. You will have sparked a curiosity in them, and you will have planted the most valuable seed that you could ever plant in their hearts just by taking the time to love your neighbor.