THE SHINING LIGHT

When Jesus asks us not to put our light under a basket (bushel) in the Parable of the Lamp and Lampstand, but to let our light shine it occurs to me that the only real way for this to happen is not to just let our light shine… but to become Light… the Light. When we do so, it is much easier to allow our Light to Shine.

One is the lamp shining, and then it is us who shine because we have the Light, and the other is The Light shining. It seems the secret is to not confuse the sources of light. Without The Light coming into us and making us Light, the lamp (our actions, behaviors, example) has little chance of shining brightly under the basket or on top of the basket. We are either a lamp without oil or a lamp with oil.

“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.  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.” Jesus