For Christ’s Sake Be a Light

For Christ’s sake, be a light. It is the ‘why’ behind Christianity, the essence of the Gospels, and the crux of The Great Commission- to follow Jesus and share his light. It sounds simple enough, but is it?

Following Jesus

Following Jesus is two-fold — be like Him and lead others to Him. It appears to be an easy formula — follow Jesus, become his disciple, and spread the Gospel.

If we look at the progression of Jesus’ disciples, they started by listening to Jesus, spending time with him, learning from him, and trying to emulate him. Initially, they were asked to give their attention and commitment; over time, what was required was much greater, sacrificing love. And, for all but one disciple, being a light in the dark consummated in their martyrdom.

I’ve been following Jesus for decades, and with each passing year, He asks that I burn a little brighter, and quite frankly, it is hard. Being a follower means more self-reflection and self-awareness, continued introspection, and more profound interior work. We may not walk the path of martyrdom; however, we journey on the road of self-denial and dying to self, which is essential for our sanctification and to become more like Jesus.

Not so simple

The question arises, why would I be asked anything different the disciples, Jesus’ earliest followers? After all, I do call myself a follower of Jesus. The longer I follow Jesus, the more I realize I have a long way to travel to burn brightly for Him. The good news is, He is ever patient, and I have a lifetime to work on this.

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14–16, RSV Catholic Edition)

Further reflection shows that this question is perhaps more complex than “don’t put your light under a bushel.” What kind of light are we? Are we consistent in shining? Do we draw attention to ourselves while being a light? Or are we sensitive or overbearing to our audience?

As I ponder what kind of light I am for Christ, a few potential pitfalls are brought to mind, which cause me to stumble and remind me of my constant need for spiritual refinement.

Pitfalls

Flickering lights are fickle. They are unpredictable and unreliable. And when you need them most, they may fail. As Christians, we too can be fickle and may be swept up in the currents of the world as the truth becomes murky. Or perhaps we flicker when we lack the courage to speak, even when nudged by the Holy Spirit.

Strobe lights have only one function: to light up a dance floor. They are glitzy and flashy and like to draw attention to themselves. They may revel in affirmations, praise, and kudos. If attention and praise are the motivation, best to turn off the strobe light for a while and re-assess.

Floodlights light up an entire area, which is good if you try to light up a stadium. Offering too much light all at once can have drawbacks. Floodlights can be blinding and can make us turn away. Our exuberance and excitement may bring too much intensity for those starting the faith journey and exploring the Light. Holy Spirit guidance, prayer, discernment, and patience are key when determining how much to share. Jesus took time to reveal himself and the Kingdom to his followers.

Light of the world

Jesus is the perfect Light, who stepped down from heaven and into this world to bring us closer to Him, illuminate our path, our need for interior work, and be His instrument to help lead others to Him.

The closer I follow Jesus, the more I recognize the work needed in my heart, where I flicker and need courage, where I behave like a strobe light and need humility, and when I forget to ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance and become a floodlight.

Thankfully, our Lord is always gracious, gentle, merciful, and ever-patient with us, teaching and molding us to be like Him. It is difficult to shine more brightly with the passing years, not grow weary, avoid cynicism and discouragement, and not give up on a world that seems to grow darker with time.

But, for Christ’s sake, be a light. The more light there is, the better we will all see.