“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.” - Matthew 5:14
“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 5:16
I don’t always understand humans.
For instance, humans spend good money on flashlights, porch lights, headlights, and those little lights you put on the end of your keychains… and then, every summer evening, they get all excited about chasing bugs that barely glow brighter than a biscuit crumb.
My human calls them lightning bugs.
I call them tiny miracles with wings.
The other night, we sat on the porch while the day slowly tucked itself into bed. The heat eased up, the crickets tuned their fiddles, and the darkness started creeping across the yard.
Then, one little flash.
Blink.
Another.
Blink-blink.
Before long, the whole field behind us looked like heaven had scattered stars and forgotten to pick them back up.
I noticed something.
Not one lightning bug lit up the whole field.
None of them were bright enough to turn night into noon.
By themselves, they seemed small and almost insignificant.
But together?
Well, together they changed the darkness.
My human smiled and said, “That’s how God uses His people.”
He explained that most of us aren’t called to be spotlights.
Nor to stand in giant stadiums, preach to thousands or be missionaries overseas.
We may never write bestselling books or make viral videos
But we can encourage one weary soul, pray for a hurting neighbor, offer forgiveness, share a meal, speak truth with kindness, and point people toward Jesus.
One small light.
Blink.
Then another believer shines.
Blink.
And another.
Before long, a dark world begins to notice.
Sometimes I think Christians worry too much about how bright they are instead of simply shining where God placed them.
Lightning bugs don’t compete.
They don’t compare.
They just do what they were created to do.
Dogs understand that.
We wag our tails.
We greet our people.
We stay close to those we love.
And followers of Jesus?
Shine.
Not so others admire them, but so they’ll see the goodness and grace of the One who made them.
The darkness around us may seem overwhelming at times.
But I’ve learned something from an old porch and a summer field full of lightning bugs:
The night simply yields to the light.
So shine…
If all you’ve got today is one small flicker of hope, kindness, mercy, or faith, offer it to God.
And blink…
He has a way of gathering little lights together until the darkness doesn’t seem so dark.
You don’t have to be the sun.
Just be faithful enough to blink.
Even an old dog can see that.
Lord, help us not hide the light You’ve given us. Teach us to shine faithfully in the places You’ve planted us, trusting that You can use even the smallest acts of obedience to illuminate a dark world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Keep the Faith… Carpe Diem
