Credit: Devotional from Who Christ Calls You To Be

“You are the light of the world. 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. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matt. 5:14–16)

For many people, this world is a dark place. They feel lost, lonely, helpless. They need somewhere to turn for guidance and hope. Jesus understood that need, so He made provisions to counteract the darkness. He tasked His followers with providing the necessary light for the world.

That may seem like an immense challenge, especially when darkness threatens to overwhelm us. The good news is that we’re not called to generate our own light. We’re called only to reflect Christ’s light (see John 1:4). Yet even that isn’t always easy.

The temptation to hide our light—to put our lamp under a basket—can be intense at times. After all, when you let your light shine, you draw attention to yourself. You invite scrutiny. If you’re not naturally comfortable in the role of a beacon, you may find that it takes some getting used to.

You may also find that some people—those who have grown comfortable in the darkness—don’t appreciate your light. They may try to dim it by knocking you off your lampstand. You’ll need to steel yourself against accusations of hypocrisy or intolerance. You’ll need to prepare to have your past thrown in your face. You’ll need to find ways to prevent people from sowing seeds of doubt in your life.

The best way to prepare for those possibilities is to draw closer to the source of life. According to 1 John 1:5–7, when you walk with Christ, you walk in His light. When other people interact with you, they experience His light too. They may not always recognize it for what it is, but they can sense something in you that lifts the darkness.

The closer you get to the source of light, the brighter your own light will shine. You get close to Jesus by following His lead. You study His light-giving qualities in the gospels—the way He prioritized hurting people, the way He spoke truth to power and called out hypocrisy, the way He drew comfort and strength from time alone with His Heavenly Father, the way He used Scripture to counter His enemies.

The risks of being a light bearer are real. But so are the rewards. Your light may be the only source of illumination some people have. By reflecting Jesus’ glory and pointing the way to Him, you have the potential to change their lives forever.