A song I really like is “This Little Light of Mine.” Written in 1920 by Harry Dixon Loes, the song is based on Matt 5:16. It talks about letting our light shine (see here). More on that in a minute.
I was at Victor Street Bible Chapel in Dallas for over twenty years. We probably sang that song at least once a month. I think most of us thought the song was about evangelism. And maybe it was. The song is less clear than Scripture about what “letting one’s light shine” means. The song tells us to let our lights shine, keep shining, and shine wherever we are. But it never says what that shining is.
The Lord Jesus put it this way: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt 5:16). He was not talking about evangelism. He was talking about our good works. While that can include evangelism, it primarily refers to a life that glorifies God and manifests His character.
Phil 2:14-15, which is based on Matt 5:16, also speaks of letting our lights shine in the world: “Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world…” Again, Paul was speaking of deeds. While evangelism is an action, that is not primarily what Paul had in mind.
Martin says, “The translation ‘light-bearers’ would be in harmony with Matthew 5:14-16. The disciples are to be the light of the world in the sense that they provide the vessel or vehicle, the lantern, in which the Light of the world (John 8:12) shines forth” (Philippians, p. 121).
Did you ever think of keeping your yard mowed and in good order as a way of letting your light shine? How about driving safely and courteously? Greeting your neighbors? Watering your neighbors’ plants when they are away? Watching their kids for them? Taking care of their dog?
My wife, Sharon, loves to walk in the neighborhood. She stops and talks to everyone who is open to talking. I’ll bet she knows half of our neighbors within two blocks. She likes people. And they like her. Sometimes they ask what I do, and Sharon tells them about the free gift of everlasting life in a very natural way.
Our God is indeed an awesome God. It makes great sense for those who love and revere Him to shine for Him even in times of suffering. May we let our lights keep on shining for Him until the Rapture, or until we die.
Letting one’s light shine is not a substitute for evangelism. But it does pave the way for it. When we find people who are open, we are available to share the Lord’s precious promise of everlasting life to all who simply believe in Him.
A song with a similar theme is “They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love” (see here). It is based on several Scriptures, but especially John 13:34-35: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
When people see us loving other believers, they can recognize that we are followers of Christ. They see His light through our love for one another.
Keep grace in focus, and your lamp will remain bright!
