Windows of the Soul (#286 of 365+)

Immediately after he described how the Queen of the South in Solomon’s day and the men of Nineveh in Jonah’s day had internalized the teaching and preaching of God’s wisdom—and repented (v. 29 – 32)—Jesus said:


“No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shines on you” (Luke 11:33-36)

When I scrutinize this passage too much it becomes like a puzzle to me. So I’m going to step back with childlike faith and remember phrases from a children’s Sunday School song:

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine…
Won't let Satan blow it out, I'm gonna let it shine…
Hide it under a bushel, NO!, I'm gonna let it shine…
Let it shine 'til Jesus comes, I'm gonna let it shine…

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine…

The light symbolizes the fire of my faith. I can’t allow the enemy to sneak in with doubts to dampen my spirits. I can’t allow peer pressure or anyone in a position of authority over me to extinguish the flame of my testimony. I have to make my faith in Jesus Christ available to all and visible so everyone may also have a chance to see and believe.

Jesus said we should seek to be filled with the real light of God (v. 35). In other words, if we have received the Holy Spirit in our hearts and we constantly fill our minds with the Word of God—if we truly internalize what Jesus said—there will be external evidence of the internal change in our lives. We wouldn’t be able to keep it a secret. Nor would we want to!

Joni said the same thing but in a different way. She said, “Be transparent.” Live right, look people in the eyes when you talk about Jesus Christ, and let his life shine through.

Lord, may souls be drawn to the warmth and the light of my faith. Help me not to be shy. Help me not to be selfish. I know I shouldn’t hide behind excuses. I know there are people who need to see you in my life. I know the enemy doesn’t want that to happen. Help me to “let my light shine” until you say it’s time to come home. Thank you for others who let their light shine so that I could believe and put my trust in you. Amen.