“You are the light of the world. A city 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.” — Matthew 5:14-15
Shine Your Light
We are all born with different talents. Some people can sing, some can draw. Others may be athletic, or super creative, or hold various degrees of jobs. But one area of life that requires zero talent is our ability to shine our light. Every single one of us has been given the ability through God to shine our light for others to see.
It’s not an “if I can” problem, it is a “will I” issue.
During my sophomore year in college, we won the NCAA national championship in hoops. Greatest athletic moment of my life. I played a total of 13 minutes that entire season. My job was essentially playing the role of the opposing team’s best player on our scout team.
Every day in practice, I would go up against one of our best players and make him work. He hated me and I got the heck beat out of me so many days. He was a star and 1000-point scorer. I was a bench guy with little career points. People knew his name, while I was an anomaly. He was in the spotlight, but I was his flashlight.
When we won, he grabbed me, hugged me and told me he would have never gotten to this point without me. At the end of the day, the only difference in our rings and Hall of Fame banners was our name. Light was light no matter what it looked like. My light, as little or ineffective as I thought, made a difference.
So many people struggle with knowing what God wants from them or what their calling is. Am I making a difference? Am I being effective? Here is the simple formula: Do what you can, with whatever you have, wherever you may be! God’s light, which He has embedded in all of us, needs to shine.
Some of us may preach to hundreds of thousands, be an athlete in front of 20,000, dance for 50, teach to 25, operate with 10, a sergeant to five or counsel one. No matter the size of the room, your light is necessary to brighten the world.
I challenge all of us today to take a stand and shine no matter what street we occupy. Whatever your gift, talent or occupation may be, do not hide that light. The Bible states that it is meant to be on a stand and illuminate the house. God is relying on us to build His house and build others. John writes, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5).
Let us, therefore, do our part to remind the world that darkness cannot prevail today nor any day. Shine!
— Erik Olson, Pass the Rock Ministries founder
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