It happened over a decade ago, yet I still remember it as if it were yesterday. One ordinary day at work, I found myself in a conversation with a male nurse we’ll call M.B. He shared bitter, frustrated thoughts about life. Wanting to offer hope, I asked, “Have you ever chosen Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior?’ He didn’t respond with agitation—I spoke calmly, hoping to offer a glimpse of hope. He reacted by reporting me to the hospital CEO, claiming I was “shoving Christ down his throat” and making false statements to get me fired. Interestingly, while his words were aggressive, my behavior remained respectful. Today, I still pray that those seeds found fertile soil. Perhaps, someday, he will look back and thank me if he sees me on the road, recognizing a moment of divine intervention. Sometimes God works in ways we can’t immediately see.
A lamp is not brought to be put under a basket, is it, or under a bed? Is it not brought to be put on the lampstand?
The kingdom calls us to live boldly and visibly—our light is designed to pierce darkness and guide others.
This passage draws from the familiar song ‘This Little Light of Mine,’ prompting us to reflect on the deeper meaning of allowing our inner light to shine freely. When we sing, “Hide it under a bushel? No, I’m gonna let it shine!’ We declare a conscious choice to live openly and authentically in the light of God’s kingdom. The verse references a basket, a bed, and a lampstand—objects symbolizing the potential for either concealment or expression. Clearly, a lamp is meant to stand on a lampstand, illuminating the darkness around it. Similarly, our lives are designed to shine brightly, illuminating the path for others and dispelling darkness through acts of kindness, truth, and faith. Hiding our light diminishes our purpose and the impact we could have. As believers, we are called to live boldly, allowing our spiritual truth to be visible and active in the world. This is more than a song lyric; it’s a call to intentionally embrace and share the light within us, inspiring others to do the same. Are you ready to let your light shine?
Yesterday, my youngest daughter and I were waiting at the airport surrounded by a crowd of strangers. Nearby, men from Jersey Mike’s kept loudly announcing, “No Bread, No Bread! We ain’t got No Bread!” over and over. After about the twelfth time, I turned to my daughter and said, “Why shout it like that? Why not simply put up a sign or speak directly to customers when they ask?” Their message was clear—they chose to be boldly visible, to shine their truth boldly and prevent confusion before it started. It made me wonder how often do we unintentionally hide our faith through words or actions? As believers, are we shining our light as clearly—welcoming, nourishing, and inviting? Or are our words and actions hiding our faith, unintentionally signaling others that faith is irrelevant and unavailable?” Jesus’ question in Mark 4:21 challenges us not to hide our lamp under a basket, but boldly let our light illuminate the darkness around us—We are beacons of hope, truth & most importantly, love in a world that desperately needs to see the Kingdom of God alive and well.
We were once darkness, but now we are light in the Lord. If we don’t shine, who will? We are called to walk as children of light. Even though sometimes we may feel unworthy, we are called to arise and shine, our light has come, and the glory of the Lord is upon us. No one buys a candle just to hide it under a bushel— they place it where it can light the whole room. Have you ever had a power outage late at night? In those moments, we instinctively seek visible light—shouldn’t our lives shine just as clearly? When you light a candle, are you looking for a central place or a secret one? We were called to manifest our light to benefit everyone around us. Don’t run or labor in vain, hold forth the word of life, and let your light shine bright.
In a culture where privacy and anonymity are valued, Jesus challenges us to be as visible for His kingdom purposes as others are about theirs. This could mean sharing your faith at work like I did with that nurse. No matter what it means, we authentically and boldly declare our faith in hope that it will bring light into dark places for someone else and cause them to act in a small way following it intentionally. We reflect on fear, discomfort & temptation to blend in, and sometimes it could lead us to hiding our faith and our gifts. Today, let’s challenge ourselves to be just like those men at Jersey Mike’s who boldly declared their truth, to declare ours—emphasizing the kingdom’s call to influence culture by living transparently, courageously, and lovingly. Whether it’s a word of encouragement, a small act of kindness, or standing firm in truth, every light counts. Together, as visible lights, we can transform the culture around us.
Time of Reflection:
** Where have I been hiding my life out of fear of rejection and discomfort?
** How can I practically shine brighter for God’s kingdom this week?
Heart-Probe Moment:
Am I living as a hidden candle or shining as a lamp?
Take a quiet moment now to ask God for courage to shine where He’s placed you.
Scripture references:
* Mark 4:21
* Is. 60: 1-3
* Luke 8:16
* 1 Cor 12:7
* Phil 2:15-16
* Matt 5:15
* Luke 11:33
* Eph 5:13-15
Lord, help me to be a light that cannot be hidden. Give me boldness to live for You, shining in darkness and drawing others to Your truth. Remove my fears and strengthen my faith to be visible and authentic in all I do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
