Growing up, I read verses like Matthew 5:14-16 and wondered how they practically applied to my life: “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” (NIV). My young adult mind pondered how I could be the light of the world to a world so broken and hurting. When my own home was flooded with darkness, abuse, and disaster, I thought maybe I'd interpreted it all wrong.
But what if those of us who have experienced the deepest darkness are in the best position to bright light into this earth? Would we ever know our need for light if we didn't identify the twilight among us? Have we who once walked in darkness truly seen and now possess a great light?
Isaiah 9:2 pens these words: "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone" (ESV). Matthew 4:16 writes similarly, "The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned" (ESV).
If we believe in Jesus, the power of the Holy Spirit dwells in us. And so does this light. We know from Scripture that this Jesus is also God and the Holy Spirit—the trinity, three-in-one. And Jesus declared in John 8:12 that He is this light of the world: "Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever allows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (ESV).
Being a source of light to this world doesn't have to be extravagant, but it does require abiding by two simple practices that Jesus commanded all of us long ago: Love God and Love others. Even in the mundane, if we illustrate these principles, we will shine brightly to a world walking in darkness.
1. Love God
In Matthew 22:37-39, Jesus gives us the most important command: "Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself' (NIV). We're told in Exodus 20:3-5 a similar claim: "Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me" (KJV).
More than 2,000 years ago, God's people struggled to love God and put Him first. When things didn't go their way, or they felt abandoned, they shipwrecked their faith, jumped courses, and bowed to foreign idols and other gods. They'd even go so far as to say that it was these man-made idols made of silver and gold that rescued them from slavery in Egypt when they intellectually knew differently. Just look at this account in Exodus 32:
"When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.” Aaron answered them, “Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.” So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, “These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt" (NIV).
One of the best ways to be a source of light in our world is to love God before anyone and anything else. If we don't, we can fall to modern-day idols and carven images—they just look differently. God commands us to love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength because we're only able to best love those around us when we love Him first.
Here are some practical ways to love God:
Write a love letter to God.
Tell God how thankful you are for Him.
Ask Him to help you love Him better.
Share the Gospel with those in need.
Give your testimony.
Praise God in dance, worship, and song.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Jose Luis Pelaez Inc
2. Love Others
The second way we can be a source of light in the mundane aspects of life comes from the second half of the Lord's greatest command in Matthew 22: "Love your neighbor as yourself."
Over the years, I've struggled to comprehend this verse because I struggle to accept and love myself. I've often thought, "How can I truly love others if I struggle to love and accept myself?" My counselor challenged me to write Psalm 139:14 on my mirror and recite it every morning. I said that felt fake. He told me to recite and internalize it until I believed it. My husband believes it's starting to work.
When we're able to love God, we're better able to love ourselves and others effectively. Why? Because we have a clearer vision of who God is and who we are. Take a Moment by United Pursuit and Will Reagan says it this way: "Take a moment to remember, who God is and who I am. There You go lifting my load again."
When we love others, those we like and those we don't, we illustrate the love that Christ has shown for each of us. By starting with our love for Christ first, our priorities are aligned and equipped to share the love God lavishes and overflows upon us onto others.
In John 13:34-35, we read these words: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (ESV). Loving one another today isn’t a new command, but it is countercultural.
Jesus’ example in Romans 5:7-9 is one we can all be encouraged to live by: “Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation” (NLT).
Here are some practical ways to love others:
Write a letter of gratitude.
Volunteer at a local homeless shelter, food pantry, or soup kitchen.
Do a random act of kindness every day.
Listen to hear, not respond.
Give your time, talents, service, or money.
Buy a stranger a coffee or tea.
Compliment one person every day.
Thank your spouse before complaining.
Be the Light in the Darkness
In a world that's growing increasingly dark and gloomy (and I'm not just talking about the time change), we can serve as God's Light in the Darkness. We're not The Light, but His light shines in us and into others who need it most.
The beautiful thing about sharing your light is that light is infectious. It can start a ripple effect in those around you, even with skeptics. Why? Because the Light of the World within us cannot be extinguished, and it’s up to us to spread and fan the flame (Timothy 1:6). Will you join me?
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/francescoch
Amber Ginter is a teacher-turned-author who loves Jesus, her husband Ben, and granola. Growing up Amber looked for faith and mental health resources and found none. Today, she offers hope for young Christians struggling with mental illness that goes beyond simply reading your Bible and praying more. Because you can love Jesus and still suffer from anxiety. You can download her top faith and mental health resources for free to help navigate books, podcasts, videos, and influencers from a faith lens perspective. Visit her website at amberginter.com.