Throughout Scripture we are told to “live as children of light.”

1 John 1:5-6 “God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth”

Peter reminds us that God has “called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9).

And Jesus told His followers “you are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14).

There is an old stone church in the Swiss Alps that does not have a lighting system, nor has it ever had one. A traveler heard a church bell ringing and saw the people heading up to the church, each one carrying a small bronze lamp filled with oil and having a wick. She approached one of those worshipers and said, “I’m a stranger here. Will you tell me why you are carrying a lamp to church?” The woman heading to the service explained that the Duke who had built that church asked that each worshiper bring his or her own lamp. The traveler replied, “I would guess that keeps some folks from attending the evening services!” “Quite the contrary,” the other woman said. “Everybody that goes makes it a little brighter, and when anybody is tempted to stay home or go somewhere else, they remember that the church needs everyone’s lamp. If your lamp is not there, there is that much less light. We also remember those who are not believers can look to the church and see its brightness or dimness in the windows. A bright church gives a good witness to those in the darkness. And not only does the church miss your light, but you miss the blessing by not being there.”

That is how all the children of light should feel. Your Church is brighter when you are there. But do not just let your light shine at church. Your faith goes with you when you walk out the door and put it into action. You carry the light with you. You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord (Ephesians 5:8), or stated another way, you have been saved through faith in Jesus Christ. When you share that Good News, you are letting your light shine.

Live as children of light.