It was about 3:00 a.m. when I woke up from a deep sleep. To not wake my wife up, I quietly tiptoed to the bathroom in the dark. Suddenly, I let out a loud moan. My wife woke up, switched the light on, and ask, “What’s wrong?” My left little toe was throbbing. I had stubbed my toe against the wooden leg of the bed. It hurt badly. I wished I had turned on the lights to see better. Light makes the darkness disappear. Light lets the hidden things visible. Without light, the world is dark, cold, and lifeless. Light gives heat. Light is a vital component for organic growth. Light makes seeing possible. We can say, without light, there is no life!

Jesus is the light of the world. 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 We, too, can shine the light onto the world. We reflect and shine the light of Christ on a dark, cold, blind world. Matthew 5:14-16 says, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 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. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

One of the clearest ways of making our light shine is to show the world God’s love through our actions. A lost, dark, dying world needs Christians to be the peacemakers. A lost dying world seeks to see Christians loving one another and expressing their love to their neighbors. You can shine the light by praying for others, purging and donating the clothes and shoes in your closets. Tutor children in the after-school program. Serve in the corps as a youth leader, Sunday School teacher, music teacher, janitor or to fulfill any other need you see. Join Community Care Ministries and visit nursing homes. Read books and the Bible to people you meet there. Visit patients in hospitals. Read books to children in the children’s hospital. Whatever you do, let you light shine so people can see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven! Let’s shine.