Matthew 5:14-16 – “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. ^[15] 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. ^[16] In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said to all who would follow him that they should let their light shine before others.  Jesus is the light and we should let His light shine in our lives.  We have always needed to hear these words and we might need them more than ever right now. 

There is a popular country song currently receiving lots of air time that is titled, “Be a Light.”  The lyrics reflect what Jesus taught us in his earliest teachings:

“In a world full of hate, be a light.
When you do somebody wrong, make it right.
Don’t hide in the dark, you were born to shine.
In a world full of hate, be a light.”

The key to letting our light shine is showing love to one another.  Jesus commanded in Matthew 22, “Love God…Love your neighbor.” In John 13, Jesus said, “as I have loved you…love one another.” The New Testament writers reiterated this command. Paul wrote in Galatians 5, “all the law is fulfilled in one word, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” James wrote that if you “love your neighbor as yourself, you do well.”  Peter wrote in I Peter 1, “love one another fervently with a pure heart.” In Luke 6, Jesus made it much more difficult when he said, “love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.”

The world needs our light.  The world needs love.  It can be so easy to start.  Be kind to someone you dislike.  Encourage someone.  Hold the door. Let someone go in front of you.  Pat someone on the back.  Be generous with compliments.  Write a thank you note.  Forgive someone.  And the list goes on….

Be a light!