Let It Shine!

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"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! 

Hide it under a bushel? No!
I'm gonna let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel? No!
I'm gonna let is shine,
    Let it shine!
    Let it shine!
    Let it shine!

Won't let Satan blow it out,
I'm gonna let it shine.
Won't let Satan blow it out,
I'm gonna let it shine,
    Let it shine!
    Let it shine!
    Let it shine!

Let it shine til Jesus comes,
I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine til Jesus comes,
I'm gonna let it shine,
     Let it shine!
     Let it shine!
     Let it shine!"

(Avis Burgeson Christiansen)

 

Remember that song?

Even the smallest light makes a difference in a dark world.

Light is often used in the Scriptures to illustrate spiritual things. Among the Old Testament prophecies concerning the coming of Jesus, Isaiah writes: "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned" (Isaiah 9:2).

After the birth of John, who would be called "The Baptist," his father, Zechariah quotes Isaiah in his own prophetic statement about the mission his son is to have in announcing the coming of Christ.

"And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, bu which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace" (Luke 1:76-79).

Jesus called Himself the Light of the world (John 8:12; 12:46) without whom the world would continue to walk in darkness. As long as He was here, He would be that Light (John 9:5).

To those of us who are believers He left us with the responsibility to reflect His light until He returns.
THE Light leaves the little lights to show the way to Him and to bring Him glory.

"You are the light of the world. A city 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 men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16).

Ontarians complain about the high cost of electricity. There is a cost to being even the weakest of lights reflecting Christ in a dark world. It may cost us some of the habits and elements of our lifestyles that we are reluctant to give up, but that distract from the pure Light of the Gospel. It may cost us our acceptance among family members or workmates or friends. John remarked in his Gospel that people love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil and they do not want to be exposed for what they are—that was why they rejected Christ and ultimately crucified Him (John 3:19, 20).

It's not easy to be a little light pointing to the Great Light that brings life into the world.

But He came to bring light, and with that light to bring life. And without Him the world will always be a dark place. "In him was life, and that life was the light of men" (John 1:4).

The coming of Christ that we celebrate at Christmas is an especially good time to let that light shine. Don't let the busyness, the hustle and bustle, the food and the fun of the season, become the "bowls" under which your little light is hidden. Together all our little lights can make a difference in this dark world.