Jesus Bids Us Shine

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 5:16

Jesus Bids Us Shine
Words by Susan Warner

Jesus bids us shine
With a pure, clear light,
Like a little candle
Burning in the night.
In this world of darkness
So let us shine—
You in your small corner,
And I in mine.

Jesus bids us shine,
First of all for Him;
Well He sees and knows it,
If our light grows dim.
He looks down from Heaven
To see us shine—
You in your small corner,
And I in mine.

Jesus bids us shine,
Then, for all around;
Many kinds of darkness
In the world are found—
Sin and want and sorrow;
So we must shine—
You in your small corner,
And I in mine.

Jesus came into the world as the Light of the World, and he bids us to shine in the darkness while we are in the world. Each of us, in our small corner, can shine for Jesus in our own situations and can show His love to the people with whom we interact. Jesus told us that this would be a natural outpouring of our being His children – we are in the light, and we are called to shine that light around our corner of the world, so that people will glorify God as a result of our good works.

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 5:14-16

We live in an imperfect world, in a crooked and perverse generation, which makes it even more important that we shine for Jesus.

Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world... Phil. 2:14-15

So how do we walk in the Light? How do we shine, each of us in our small corners?

Be imitators of God, walk in love, learn what is pleasing to the Lord, expose deeds of darkness, make the most of your time.

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says, "Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:1-16

Practice the truth.

He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God. John 3:18-22

Love your brother.

On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining. The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. I John 2:8-10

This hymn reminds us (as if we need reminding!) that many kinds of darkness in the world are found – it is so important that we shine as children of Light – that as a result of our shining in this world, men will glorify God our Father. And that is our goal while we are here on Earth – that our lives would bring glory to God, and that through our light shining, others will glorify Him as well.

As the Newsboys (modern day hymnwriters?) say,

Shine
Make 'em wonder whatcha got
Make 'em wish that they were not
on the outside looking bored
Shine
Let it shine before all men
Let 'em see good works and then
Let 'em glorify the Lord.