Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16 NKJV)

What would you think if I opened my phone and turned on its flashlight – only to drop it into my purse and zip it shut? You might wonder what I was doing. After all, why would someone turn on a light to hide it?

Jesus told a parable addressing the absurdity of hiding your light. Three of the Gospels give different accounts of it.

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. (Matthew 5:14b–15 NKJV)

 

Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand? (Mark 4:212 NKJV)

 

No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light. (Luke 8:16 NKJV)

It would be nonsensical to light a lamp and then hide the light it gives off. It wouldn’t make sense.

In the same way, it doesn’t make sense to hide the light that Jesus has given to you. Jesus said, “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14a NKJV). And after giving the example of how ridiculous it would be to light a lamp and hide it, He told his disciples, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16 NKJV).

When we were born again, we became His light bearers. So why would we hide that light? It seems silly. Yet, sometimes we do.

When you

• lie;
• gossip;
• get drunk;
• take drugs;
• curse;
• refuse to stand for truth; and

do other things like that, you’re hiding your light. Galatians 5:19–21 lists some of the works of the flesh – things that align with your old, sinful habit patterns.

But in Galatians, it goes on to list the fruit of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22–23 NKJV). When you keep your eyes on Jesus and stay put in Him, you’ll see the fruit of the Spirit in your life.

And others will see it too. You’ll radiate light. And like the people who realized that Peter and John had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13), others will look at you and see that you’ve been spending time with your Savior.

The world needs light. So, make sure you’re not hiding yours. Be bold for Jesus. Love God and the people He has placed in your life. Let your light shine as you walk by faith with God.

Photo by Gadiel Lazcano on Unsplash