This Little Light of Mine
Scripture Reading — Ephesians 5:8-20
“You are the light of the world … Let your light shine before others …”
Matthew 5:14-16
Give children flashlights in a dark place, and they will be entertained for a long time. Light has amazing properties. It travels about 186,000 miles per second. It is also powerful—especially when we speak of the light of Jesus Christ, “the light of all people” that shines into and overcomes the darkness of our world (John 1:4-5).
Jesus calls us to be light, to shine like stars in the world. How do we do that? Eugene Peterson, in The Message, states Philippians 2:15 of our Scripture this way: “Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God.”
Mother Teresa shone for Jesus in the darkness of poverty in India. A friend who spends time with the dying and their families is light in the darkness of pain and grief. The mentor to a fatherless child is a light in the darkness of loneliness and bewilderment. The worker who takes time to listen to a coworker and offer support is a light in the darkness of discouragement and despair.
There are many ways to be a light for Jesus. May our lives shine so brightly through Christlike behaviors and attitudes that others will ask where our life and love come from—and of course the answer is Christ, our Savior.
Lord, sometimes our light dims in the world. Bring us back to the source, to you, the light of the world. May we shine brightly wherever you have placed us. Amen.
About the author — Allen & Lynn Likkel
Revs. Allen and Lynn Likkel have worked in communities across North America for many years—planting churches, nurturing them along, and developing new church leaders. A minister in the Christian Reformed Church, Allen served with Christian Reformed Home Missions for nearly 40 years, and Lynn, also ordained as a minister of the Word, has served to build leaders and new congregations. In November 2010, Allen entered retirement, and the Likkels moved to Washington, their native state. They have four adult children.
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