“No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed; rather, he places it on a lampstand so that those who enter may see the light.” (Luke 8:16)
Jesus uses a simple image—a lamp—to teach a profound truth about discipleship.
Think about the purpose of a lamp. Lamps are meant to shine, to give light. We can put them on timers or systems like Alexa. You can set your family room lights to turn on 20 minutes before sunset. Why? Because we know that’s when the light is needed. That’s when the light can fulfill its purpose: brighten the darkness, illuminate, make clear the way to go, to be the beacon of hope like a lighthouse to a seafarer.
And so it is with our faith.
Faith is personal, relational – but not just between you and God. The gift of Baptism binds each one of us to the entirety of God’s covenant people. So, faith is shared. It is not a private possession to be tucked away. It is not a treasure to be buried. It is a light, the light of Christ that must be placed where others can see it. Not for our glory, but for His. Not to boast, but to witness.
Yet how often do we live as if our faith were a secret? We may pray quietly, believe deeply, and love sincerely, but if no one knows we are Christian, how will they ever encounter Christ through us?
There is a temptation in our culture to privatize faith. To keep it internal, personal, and invisible – out of the public square. But Jesus warns us: “Take care, then, how you hear. To anyone who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he seems to have will be taken away” (v.18) And maybe that says something about our faith – what we seem to have – at least to ourselves but a faith that remains a mystery to others… even that will be taken away. Maybe faith is something that is in the category of “use it or lose it.”
Faith can be lost, ignored, or just fade away through lack of use. It’s a spiritual reality. If we hide the light of Christ, it dims. If we bury our faith, it weakens. But if we share it, live it, speak it, and let it shine, then it grows. It multiplies. It draws others in.
We are called to live a visible faith.
- By loving boldly not just those who love us, but those who challenge us.
- By forgiving freely even when it’s hard.
- By speaking gently but truthfully about what we believe and why.
- By serving humbly especially when no one is watching.
- And above all, by showing joy, the kind that comes from knowing Christ.
So… how’s your light? And, where is your light? On display or hidden away. Do your neighbors, coworkers, or even family know that you follow Jesus—not just because you go to church, but because you live differently?
Be the light that shines in the darkness. And may those who enter our lives see His light—and be drawn to Him.
The Exhortation to the Apostles | James Tissot | ca. 1890 | Brooklyn Museum NYC | PD-US