Sharing Your Light
Posted on Jul 13, 2021 by Janet Loos
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:13-16)
Growing up, we always attended the midnight candlelight service on Christmas Eve, which I loved. Not just because it meant I was up way past my bedtime, but the service was always mesmerizing — the candles, the music, hearing the story of our Savior’s birth — drawing me in that special worship space.
Every year, one of my relatives strategically sat between my brother and I. I am sure this was a preplanned effort by my mom to make sure we did not fight, argue, or burn the church down. One year, my grandpa was on “kid duty,” and as my brother and I got restless waiting for the candlelight to be passed our way, he told us to watch the light when it was passed, for the moment that one light lit another, it burned brighter than it had before. We watched with wide-eyed amazement as each candle burned a little brighter the moment it lit the candle next to it. You see, the candle lighting the other one lost nothing by sharing its light; in fact, it was brighter.
The same can be said about us as Christians. When we share our light, nothing diminishes within us. In fact, quite the opposite happens; we shine brighter. So, I challenge you this week to share your light with others, and watch your light shine brighter.
Janet Loos
Salem Office Administrator