In Matthew 5:14-16 Jesus said,
“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.”
The function of light is to shine and give light. A light in a dark place by default stands out. In other words if a light doesn’t shine it is malfunctioning. Letting our light shine is the use of our gifts in service to others. Your gift has the potential to have massive impact in the world around you. It’s this impact that causes people to see the goodness of God and glorify your Father in heaven.
In John 12 Jesus returns to Bethany which is the home of Lazarus whom Jesus had previously raised from the dead. A lot of people came out to see him and John tells us why, in verses 17 and 18,
“Many in the crowd had seen Jesus call Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, and they were telling others about it. That was the reason so many went out to meet him – because they had heard about this miraculous sign.”
Many people saw Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead. Those people went and told others what they had seen and “that was the reason so many went out to meet him, because of what they had heard about Jesus and Lazarus.
If our light is under a basket no one will ever know what we have to offer. The only way for people to encounter the goodness, wholeness, restoration, identity, purpose and vision that is found in God, is for us to display it in all its glory. That means that you must use your gift to serve people. You must use your gift in front of people. No one lights a lamp and sticks it under a bowl. Instead they put it on a lamp stand so that it gives light to all the room.
My good peoples, let your light so shine before men, that they see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Your good deeds cause people to taste and see that God is good.