By Russell McLaughlin
This Little Light of Mine
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:14-16
I depend on light bulbs. Even though I basically understand how they work, I can’t make one or fix one. When I turn on a light switch, I expect the light bulb to work. If it doesn’t, I get a new bulb and replace the old one.
What do you do with burned out light bulbs? I throw them away or recycle them because I don’t have any other use for them. They don’t work the way they are, and I can’t fix them or use them in any other way. A burned-out light bulb is high on my list of unneeded junk.
It doesn’t matter why they don’t work, either. Usually, the filament burns out after it has burned for a long time. The bulb may have a manufacturing defect. The bulb may have been cracked and all the inert gas may have leaked out. All I know is it doesn’t work, so I discard it.
Fortunately, people aren’t disposable like light bulbs. Sometimes people don’t work. A variety of situations break them down. Sometimes they feel like they’ve been on for too long and they burn out. They might be cracked by the pressures of life and feel like all their spirit has leaked out. Everyone develops defects from living in a world characterized by sin.
Fortunately, I can point them toward someone who can fix anything, Jesus Christ. When we can’t fix them, Jesus can! Jesus said, 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30. Jesus takes ruined and broken lives and transforms them into something beautiful. Jesus wants us to let our lights shine to those around us. Remember the words to the children song, “This little Light of Mine”, This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine, Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. Don’t hide it under a bushel…, don’t let Satan blow it out..., let it shine!
I am a living light bulb. Far too often I don’t give the light I was meant to give. I am humbled by the recognition of personal failure and the compassion that only comes from personal forgiveness. My purpose in life is to gather up some other old, broken light bulbs and lay them at my Master’s feet. For He is light and life. Let’s lean on Jesus and let our lights shine for Him.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. Ephesians 5:8-11
Let’s let our lights shine brightly!
God Bless!