Be the Light in the Darkness
“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.”
Brothers and sisters, we live in a world shrouded in darkness—spiritual confusion, moral decay, fear, division, and despair. But Jesus didn’t leave us powerless in the midst of it. He looked at a crowd of ordinary people—fishermen, farmers, tax collectors—and He declared a truth that still resounds today: “You are the light of the world.” Not you might be, not you could be, but you are.
1. You Are the Light
Notice Jesus didn’t say “I am the light of the world” here—He said you are. He transferred His light to His followers. When Christ is in us, we don’t just reflect light—we radiate it. Like the moon reflects the sun, we shine the light of the Son of God into a world that desperately needs it. You carry divine purpose. Your presence in your family, your job, your community is not accidental—it’s intentional.
2. A City on a Hill Cannot Be Hidden
Your faith is not meant to be private. The world doesn’t need secret Christians. It needs bold believers. When the world is growing colder and darker, that’s not the time to shrink back—it’s the time to rise up. The darker the night, the brighter the light shines! Just like a city on a hill glows for miles, your life is meant to be seen, not for your glory but for God’s glory.
3. Don’t Hide Your Light
Jesus warns us not to put our light under a bowl. What is your bowl? Fear? Shame? Complacency? Busyness? Comfort? Don’t hide what God has given you. Your testimony, your transformation, your joy, your generosity—they are all fuel for the fire that God wants to shine through you. Your light has a purpose. And when you shine, others see the way.
4. Let It Shine Through Good Works
Jesus said, “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Our light isn’t just in our words—it’s in our works. It’s in how we love, how we serve, how we forgive, how we give. When you lift the broken, when you welcome the outcast, when you pray for your enemies, the world sees something it can’t explain—and God gets the glory.
Light Pushes Back Darkness
Family, when you walk into a room, the atmosphere should shift. When you speak, your words should carry hope. When you live, people should see the love of Jesus. You were born for such a time as this—not to curse the darkness but to light it up.
So go! Be the light. Be the hope-bearer. Be the truth-speaker. Be the example. Don’t wait for the world to change—be the change. Shine boldly, shine brightly, and shine always, because Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, lives in you.
Call to Action
Tonight, I challenge you: Go into your community, your job, your family, and shine like never before. Serve someone. Speak life. Stand for truth. Don’t wait to feel ready—the light is already in you. All you have to do is let it shine!
-Joe