Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. NRSV
Don’t hide your light! Let it shine brightly before others, so that the commendable things you do will shine as light upon them, and then they will give their praise to your Father in heaven. TPT
By Pastor Vivian
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
Let it shine! Let it shine! Let it shine!
When my grandkids were much younger than they are now, they loved to sing in the car with me, their Nana. Our singing was seasonal, with the Christmas songs The Twelve Days of Christmas, Jingle Bell Rock, and Jingle Bells being favorites. But we could always sing This Little Light of Mine; with the three of us yelling a resounding NO to the verse that said “Hide it under a bushel.”
I am the fun Grandmother!
What does our passage today and the song that most, if not all, of us have sung mean? What does “being a light” look like? How do we let our light shine? These are good questions, because today there is a need for light in our world. We live in a world filled with darkness because everyone is choosing their own god; and even if they say they love Jesus, quite a few have made him into what they want him to be.
Just because someone is passionate (and loud) doesn’t mean that their passion is healthy or right. In the 60’s, evangelical Christians were very loud about who they wanted going to school with their children. Ruby Bridges, a 6-year-old beginning 1st grade, had to be escorted to and from school by Federal Law officers for her protection. Every day, she had to walk through a gauntlet of grownups screaming vile things at her. She recently said in an interview with Selena Gomez, “The coffin, it was a real baby’s coffin, and they put a black doll inside,” Bridges said. “I used to have nightmares about that coffin.” I can’t even imagine! 6 years old! Very little light shown.
The sun is a huge star that is very, very bright and gives off a ginormous amount of light. The moon is gorgeous against a dark sky however, it gives off absolutely no light of its own. What we see, when we look up at the night sky, is reflected light from the sun. We are to be like the moon and reflect God’s light.
We reflect God’s light when we love others because God loves us. Everything we do becomes a reflection of God’s love for us. When we are rude, arrogant, gossips, controlling, bitter, joyless people we are not reflecting God’s love. It’s not hard, just remember the Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12) Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.”
Ever notice that when you have a simple night-light, this tiny bulb can really light up a room. Think of yourself as a night light and let your little light shine.
Will you choose to be a light in the world, or will you choose the dark side?
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