I still remember packing my little red car as full as humanly possible, preparing for my freshman year at a college two states away. Most of this stuff turned out to be completely useless, because I then had to find a place for it all in my cramped half of the dorm! Little did I know that, rather than dorm furniture, I mostly needed advice on how to be light in the darkness. That year, my faith was tested in ways that both frightened me and awakened the still-pervasive darkness in the world.
The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not understood it. (John 1:5)
This verse from the book of John may paint a sad picture of the world’s lack of understanding, but it also gives us hope. The verses which precede it remind us exactly WHO we represent when we shine His light into the darkness.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were made by Him, and without Him was nothing made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not understood it. (John 1:1-5)
This passage, and many others, not only give us the truth about the dark state of the world, but also the “how” to become light. I pray that these scriptures will encourage, inspire, and motivate you to be the light in your own dark corner of the world.
Here are three ways the scriptures tell us how to be light in the darkness.
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1. Testify
“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came to testify, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but he was sent to bear witness of that Light. He was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.” (John 1:6-9)
The role of a witness is to answer questions honestly and report honestly about what they saw and heard. As Christians, we can be light in the darkness by responding truthfully to unbelievers and bearing witness to what God has done. Remember, it’s not our job to TO DO people believe, but to share the truth boldly and lovingly.
What do you know to be true about the Lord Jesus Christ?
What has he done in your own life?
These are essential questions that you need to be able to answer. Answering these questions prepares you to bear witness to the truth and to be light-hearted. John testified about Jesus because he knew without a doubt who Jesus was and what he would do for the world.
“The next day John saw Jesus coming towards him and said:See! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is the One of whom I said: “After me comes a man who is preferred to me, because he was before me.”‘”(John 1:29-30)
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2. Follow the commandments of Jesus
“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'” (John 8:12)
When you choose to follow the Lord’s commandments and reject the ways of the world, others will notice. Especially when you hold on to what is true, your light will shine. Although people may reject it, some will be drawn to it, curious to know why you live differently.
The challenge for us is to keep our eyes fixed on the One we follow. The moment we take our eyes off the Savior, we will be tempted to slip into the darkness of the world. Just as Jesus turned his face like flint toward the redeeming cross, we too must turn our face like flint toward the Redeemer.
The Bible says that if we claim to have fellowship with the Lord, but walk in darkness, we are not practicing the truth. My prayer is that we take Jesus’ commandments seriously and live as a light in the darkness by walking in obedience.
“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”1 John 1:5-7)
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3. Take yourself out
“You are the light of the world. A city that is on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do you light a lamp and put it under a basket, but you put it on a lamp stand, 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 who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)
It can be a little scary to think about shining the light of Jesus for all to see. It’s much safer to mention it casually, hoping not to offend anyone. However, Jesus proclaimed in Matthew 5 that his disciples were the light of the world. They should not remain hidden. They were called to let their light shine like a city set on a hill.
We are also the disciples of Jesus. We are not meant to stay hidden in our protected corner of the world. We must boldly let our light shine before men!
Here are some authentic ways to show up and be a light for Jesus:
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3 authentic ways to be a light
Serve others
With a joyful and willing heart, seek to serve others in the name of Jesus. Consider joining a ministry and volunteering your time. Remember that in all the work you do, work as for the Lord and not as a man. (Colossians 3:23)
Start a blog
Have you ever considered online outreach? If you’re good at writing, consider starting a Christian blog or newsletter. People need to hear what the Lord is putting on your heart! Pray and ask the Lord to guide you and share the light of truth with those He brings along your path.
Teaching the little ones
I can’t think of a better, brighter way to let your light shine and build the kingdom of God than investing in the next generation. The voice of the world seems to grow louder while the gentle whisper of God seems to grow quieter. If God has given you the gift of teaching little ones, be a light to His glory and know that you are reaching the next generation for Christ.
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“…now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” (Ephesians 5:8)
Ultimately, each of us is called to be light in the darkness. This should not scare us. Most of us remember a time when we ourselves walked in darkness. And from this experience we know how starkly this contrasts with walking in the light of the Lord.
“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” (Ephesians 5:8)
Just like I filled my car that day with too many things I didn’t need for college, we often fill our lives with things that don’t matter. Testifying of the Savior, following His commandments, and putting yourself first for Jesus’ sake are three beautiful ways to intentionally live for the Lord and be light in the darkness.
Jennifer Waddle is best known for encouraging Christian women in faith and life. She is the author of several books, including Worried Prayer: Turning Every Worry Into Powerful Prayer,And is a contributor to WomensMinistryTools.com, Pedestrian crossing.com And respect.is. She resides with her family near the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, her favorite place on earth. You can find free resources at EncouragementMama.com where to find his books here. Jennifer is also available, via email, at jennifer@encouragementmama.com. She reads every email that comes to her inbox, and would be honored to pray for your requests.
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Originally published on Thursday January 24, 2019.
