“This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine…”
We sang the song as children, standing before the congregation, each of us holding up one chubby little finger. Pointed heavenward, my finger represented a burning candle. Not only did I intend to let it shine, I was determined to not let it go out. I sang: “Not gonna let Satan [blow] it out; I’m gonna let it shine…”
As an adult, remembering that song, I might ask, “Do I have the light?”
I have a flashlight. It’s a nice little LED, given to me by my husband whom I have fittingly nicknamed GearMan. The mechanism itself is small, but it emits a bright, far-reaching beam of light. When we’re on the trail, it’s a critically important item I carry in the side pocket of my pack. My flashlight is powered by a Double A Battery, which is charged with the energy of the sun. We carry a solar panel, and one of our daily priorities is to make sure the solar battery is plugged into the panel, and the panel is aimed at the sun.
This little light of mine…
Does singing the song make it so?
We know by the word of life that Jesus is the Light of the world. In the book of John 8:12 NASB, we read the word of Christ:
“I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
This is good news!
Who wouldn’t want the Light of life?
Notice the capital L in Light. The New American Standard version of the Holy Bible uses a capital letter in its reference to the Christ.
Is there a little l to be found? A little light?
In the book of Matthew, chapter 5 NASB, we read that Jesus went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. He opened His mouth and began to teach them. Verse 14:
“You are the light of the world…”
How do I know if I am the light of the world?
You might say, “If you believe, then you are the light.”
But, what about the demons?
“What about them?”, you might ask. “Who’s talking about demons?”
In James 2:19 NASB, we are told:
You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.
The demons believe. Are they the light of the world?
In 2 Corinthians 11:14 NASB, the apostle Paul teaches:
…Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
In the book of Matthew, we read about demons that acknowledged Jesus is the Son of God.
Matthew 8:28-33 KJV
And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.
And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?
And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding.
So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.
And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.
And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils.
Jesus cast out demons.
In the book of John, chapter 1, the word states John witnessed the true Light.
John 1:1-9 NASB
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.
There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.
How did John the baptist know Jesus is the Light?
Continue reading John 1.
John 1:29-34 NASB
The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’ I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water.” John testified saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.”
In chapter 14, the word says:
John 14:23 NASB
Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.”
To His disciples (a learner, disciple, pupil), Jesus said:
Matthew 5:14-16 NASB
“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.”
That’s no small light : )
Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.
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