You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 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. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

--Parallel verses:
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10‬:‭19‬-‭25‬
Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

For many years I have seen God work around me and understood that he works in our lives, however I did not understand the great plans he had for me. God has chosen each of us for greatness through his Spirit. And we all have the ability to shine a bright light into a dark world.

When looking at a lampstand, it can provide light to a wide area. However it needs a few things to do this: 1) it needs fuel in the form of oil, 2) it needs a lamp to hold the oil, 3) it needs a wick to allow it to burn at a steady rate, and 4) it needs an ignition source, a spark to light it.

When Jesus was preaching this sermon (it was called The Sermon on the Mount), he preached it before a large crowd of followers. As he addresses them here, he addresses them in two distinct ways: individually and collectively. He clearly references a city on a hill here. A city is a collection of people. God builds relationships both individually and corporately with his people. He also makes covenants with us this dual way. And he cares for and loves us personally and as a group.

So he says this to each person here, about how a lampstand works to give off light. To me, it sounds like he is saying: “Be sure you have all you need to operate individually. One person might build the stand, another might harvest the oil, one might make the wicks, and another steel and flint stones to make a spark. And when they trade with each other, now they can all make light.

In the same way, Jesus is telling these people to support each other spiritually with the gifts they have, so that each one can, through God’s Spirit alive in them, make light.

And when each one of you who makes light UNITE under Jesus Christ, your light will be “OH SO BRIGHT”! So don’t hide your light or be ashamed of it. It may be a different color hue or type of light. Regardless, it was intended to shine! I see red and green lights around my subdivision, and they are designed to remind me of the love of Jesus at Christmas.

Shining we were designed for and shining we are called to, so shine we must!

How do we gain the confidence to be transparent and draw attention to God’s work in us, without fear or worry? By faith is Jesus. His body, broken for us, severed the hold that legalistic righteousness had on us, and granted us a pardon for our sins through faith in him! And the curtain to the Holy of Holies in the temple was torn asunder, the curtain which separated a holy God from a sinful people.

So, through the perfect Lamb of God (our Sacrifice and Savior) Jesus Christ, we enter into his presence unashamed and with confidence. We gain the strength and ability to shine the light of Jesus to all around, without fear. We can be bold in presenting the truth to a fallen world.

What an incredible opportunity and mission. So brothers and sisters, let us unite in confidence and purity, through obedience to God and out of the love for him and others found in our hearts. And let us SHINE BRIGHTLY and BOLDLY the love of Jesus Christ from a high place for all to see. Let us not hide our faith, but spread it out!

Lord, thank you for this wonderful passage that encourages us to shine individual lights for you and then unite to boldly shine brighter together as we serve as your hands and feet in a fallen world.