Let Your Light Shine!
As long as I am in the world, [Jesus said,] I am the light of the world.
John 9:5
We are holding a light. We are to let it shine! Though it may seem but a twinkling candle in a world of blackness, it is our business to let it shine. Light dispels darkness, and it attracts people in darkness to it.
We are blowing a trumpet. In the din and noise of battle the sound of our little trumpet may seem to be lost, but we must keep sounding the alarm to those who are in danger.
We are kindling a fire. In this cold world full of hatred and selfishness our little blaze may seen to be unavailing, but we must keep our fire burning.
We are striking with a hammer. The blows may seem only to jar our hands as we strike, but we are to keep on hammering. Amy Carmichael of India once asked a stonecutter which blow broke the stone. “The first one and the last,” he replied, “and every one in between.”
We have bread for a hungry world. The people may seem to be so busy feeding on other things that they will not accept the Bread of Life, but we must keep on giving it, offering it to the souls of men.
We have water for famishing people. We must keep standing and crying out, “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters” (Isaiah 55:1). Sometimes they can’t come and we must carry it to them.
We must persevere. We must never give up. Keep using the Word!
Jesus said that much of our seed will find good soil and spring up and bear fruit. We must be faithful witnesses.
The Bible says, “He that winneth souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30). “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever” (Daniel 12:3).
“Ye are the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13). Salt makes one thirsty. Does your life make others thirsty for the water of life?
Our Father and our God, You are the light of the world, and Your light shines through me. Please help me not to put out the flame but to set it on a lampstand as a guide to those around me in darkness. Help me to be salt and light, Father. Help me to show people that You are the light at the end of their tunnels. Through Christ. Amen.
Billy Graham, Unto the Hills: A Daily Devotional (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2010).