Darkness invades our country and world. Mass shootings, police brutality, racial injustice, fear, anger, hate, violence, protests, riots, and destruction. I watch the news. I feel powerless. Is a solution possible?
Suddenly, a song pops into my mind. When I was a young girl, we learned this song in church, “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. Let it shine, let it shine. Hide it under a bushel, NO! I’m gonna let it shine.” (We loved shouting NO at the top of our lungs.)
Who will shine light into the darkness of our country and our world?
Light of the world
We can! Jesus said to the crowds during the Sermon on the Mount, “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” (Matthew 5:14–16, ESV).
Believers in Christ are the light of the world to share the Good News and glorify God by our good works, just like my childhood song said.
But Jesus called Himself the light of the world in John 8:12. The work of Jesus in the world is our work as Christians. Shine your light on darkness—hate, evil, ignorance, and sin.
How do we shine our light into the dark places of the world?
Love God, love people
The answer is simple: love God and love people.
When asked what the greatest commandment was, Jesus said, “’And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these” (Mark 12:30-31, NLT).
Alone, I cannot change the world. But I can change myself, how I act and respond to people around me. Change begins with me, with you, and with each person who loves God and loves people. Don’t hide your light under a bushel basket. Shine our light. Show God’s love to the world.
Listen to Danny Gokey’s song, Love God, Love People.
How do I love God?
Seek God to find Him and know Him. As scripture states, “But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul” (Deuteronomy 4:29, NIV). God waits for you to make the first move.
How do you get to know a person as a friend? You spend time and talk with them. In the same way, to love God, we spend time with Him and get to know Him by praying, reading the Bible and meditating on scripture.
How do I love people?
Just like how you get to know God, seek them out. Spend time with people. Pray for them. Help them.
We have a motto in our church, “love your zip code.” This embodies exactly what Jesus meant by “love your neighbor as yourself.” We love and serve all people in our city.
Be humble
Humility is required to love and serve God and people.
To truly love God and love people, we must be servants. Unfortunately, the world does not promote service and self-sacrifice. Instead, it’s a “selfie” world. Everyone is out for themselves.
Rick Warren wrote in The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here for?, “True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.”
Therefore, think less about ourselves and more about other people. But it is impossible to do this without help from the Holy Spirit. Because we are human and pride drives us to think of ourselves first. Genuine humility comes from loving and depending on God. Then we are free to love people too.
Our role model for humility and service is Jesus. To show His disciples how to be humble, Jesus washed their feet, including those of Judas, His betrayer, the night before He was crucified (John 13:1-5, NIV).
In a supreme act of humility, Jesus “humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:4-8, ESV).
Shine our light
Keep it simple. Shine our light! We can change the world by loving God and loving people. It all starts with me. And you. It’s time.
Thank you so much for your blog and song. It was uplifting In a time of turmoil. I have to remember God is in control. God’s love always wins over everything.
Thank you for your comment. It’s a great song! Glad you enjoyed it.
Such an encouraging read! Thank you for casting light into our dark world!
Thank you for your comment Carly. I am glad that you are encouraged by the post.
Thanks for the song, Susan!!! It is encouraging and great message!!!
Thank you for the comment Lisa and Edward! I am glad you liked the song. It has been out for a while but such a great message right now.