Matthew 5:14-16
When I was little, I learned the Vacation Bible School song, “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.” As kids, we’d sing it loud and with so much boldness. But somewhere along the way, that changed. As adults, we tend to hold back or stay quiet. And some of us try not to stand out in a crowd.
If we’re honest, most of us have done that with our faith. We love Jesus. We believe the gospel. But when it comes to speaking about Him or living boldly for Him, we hesitate. Some of us even soften the truth or say nothing at all. But Jesus never designed our faith to be hidden. He designed it to shine! You are the light and meant to live with courage and clarity. And purpose!
Identity Comes First
In Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus is speaking to ordinary people who chose to follow Him. Before He tells them what to do, He tells them who they are. “You are the light of the world.” Notice what He doesn’t say. He doesn’t say, try to be the light or work harder so you can become the light. He says, “You are.” That means your identity isn’t something you earn. It’s something you receive. Scripture reinforces this repeatedly.
Ephesians 5:7–8 says, “At one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” Notice what that verse says. It doesn’t say you used to walk in darkness. It says you were darkness. Now you are light. That’s why we avoid and don’t participate in sin. Not because we’re trying to earn holiness, but because darkness no longer defines us.
Philippians 2:15 tells us to “shine as lights in the world,” even in a crooked and twisted generation. But here’s the key: we are not the source. Jesus says in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” Jesus is the Light, and we’re to reflect Him. So, the light is not something you turn on when you feel brave. It’s who you already are because you belong to Christ. And when identity is secure, clarity follows.
Stop Hiding Your Light
Right after Jesus defines our identity, He explains our purpose. “A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” In biblical times, cities were built on hills so travelers could see them from afar. Their purpose was to guide people in the dark. Then Jesus makes it even more practical: “No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket.”
No one turns on a light and then hides it. And yet, we do that with our faith all the time. Not because we don’t love Jesus, but because we’re afraid. Afraid of being misunderstood or saying the wrong thing. We’re afraid of standing out or getting rejected. And sometimes, we convince ourselves that staying quiet is being kind or that blending in is being wise. But Jesus says something different.
Hiding the light doesn’t make it more loving. It makes it less helpful. The light doesn’t stop being light when it’s covered. It just stops doing what it was created to do. I had to learn this personally. Years ago, I took a new job and almost immediately felt the tension within the office. I was ignored, talked about, and treated harshly. Everything in me wanted to shrink back and quit. But the Lord kept bringing me back to one truth: “You are the light.”
So instead of pulling back, I started showing up early to turn on the lights. With each switch, I’d pray over the office, my coworkers, and the patients we would see that day. I chose to serve, to love, and to stay visible, even when it wasn’t easy. And over time, things began to change. But more importantly, God didn’t just change the environment; He changed my heart.
For years, I got the opportunity to pray, share my faith, and even start a Bible study with the same women who once rejected me. That’s what happens when we courageously stop hiding.
Clarity Matters
Jesus doesn’t just tell us to shine. He tells us why. “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” The goal of light isn’t attention. Its direction. Our lives and good works are to clearly point people to God. And this is where many of us struggle. Not because we don’t do good works or have God stories to share. We have lots of them to tell.
But… I recently asked over 100 Christian women how often they speak about Jesus in a casual conversation or share their salvation story with others. Sadly, only a few hands went up. When I dug deeper to understand the reason, I learned it was because they didn’t understand how, or felt insecure, and said it was because lack of training. But here’s what matters. Sharing your testimony doesn’t have to be long or complicated. It just needs to be clear and centered on Jesus.
One of the simplest ways to share your story is through three words: Before. How. After. (This is a method Paul used in Acts 9, 22, 26). Share with others:
- Before: What was missing before Christ?
- How: How did Jesus meet you?
- After: What has changed in your life since?
Your story isn’t about impressing people with your past or the pain you endured. It’s to point people to your Savior. If people remember your sin more than they remember Jesus, His light grows dim. But when your testimony is clear, people don’t see confusion. They see Jesus shine bright in this dark world.
The Truth We Can’t Miss
At the center of every testimony is the Gospel. People need to hear that God is a Holy God who created us for a relationship with Him. The Bible tells us in Romans 3:23 “All fall short of the glory of God,” which means sin separates us from God, and death is the penalty for sin.
Knowing we can’t save ourselves, God sent a Savior; Jesus to live the life we couldn’t live and die the death we deserved. Then on the third day, He rose again, defeating sin, death, and hell. This means that Jesus Christ took our place so we could have a right relationship with God and spend eternity in heaven with Him.
The truth we can’t miss is the Gospel! So, “If we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead, we will be saved” (Romans 10:9). That’s the foundation of every story. That’s the light we carry.
(If you accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior recently or from reading this post, then this will go into the “How” part of your testimony). Make sure to reply to this email, I’d love to hear all about it!
Shine Bright for Jesus
Before you leave this page, remember this: Jesus didn’t say to Christians, “Try to be the light.” He said, “You are the light.” That means wherever you go this week, the light goes with you. When you walk into a room and feel like you don’t belong, that’s not your cue to shrink back. It’s your opportunity to shine bright for Jesus.
You don’t have to be louder or have all the answers. We just have to stop hiding the light God has already placed in us. So, live visibly, speak clearly, and courageously point people to your Father in heaven because you are the light of the world.
In the meantime, I’ll keep praying for you to boldly sing with me from the rooftops, “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. Let it shine. Let it shine.”
Shine Bright Sisters,
💛Dee
Take a few minutes to write out your testimony using the Before, How, After framework. And then go even further to share it with someone this week.
If you’re looking for more ways to grow your faith, head over to the dee-votionals for monthly encouragement, practical teaching, and resources to help you live with Christ, courage, and clarity.
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