The other night, I went through the house and turned on every light. Then I built big black boxes and put one over each light to stymie the glow. My work was done. I had turned the lights on and then covered them over so their glow could not be seen. You say, “Ridiculous!” That’s exactly what Jesus said.

Matthew 5:14-15
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.

People don’t light a lamp so they can cover it up. Light fixtures are meant to give off light and dispel the darkness. People light their lamps and place them on a stand so that the house can be illumined.

Because of Jesus, you are the light of the world. Put aside your fears. Pray for strength and courage. The world needs light! Be the light! Shine bright!

Father, through Christ, you have made us to shine. Don’t let us cover over or diminish the light of Christ. In his name, we pray. Amen.

As we wrap up another year, I want to thank you for engaging in God’s Word with me every day. It is a privilege to have this time with you.  On January 1, we will begin a 31-day devotional series called Standing Firm in Unshakable Faith. With everything going on in our world, we want to stand firm in the confidence we have because of Jesus. Invite a friend or someone in your family to join us so we can stand firm together.