This Little Light of Mine

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

On a clear night the lights of a distant city are visible for miles, especially if that city is on a hill. In Bible times that’s where a majority of cities were built—on hills. Even without electricity, the nighttime fires gave light that could be seen for a considerable distance.

When Jesus moved His ministry headquarters to Capernaum, on the Sea of Galilee, many of the surrounding hills were topped by cities whose lights were visible on the night horizon. Safad (modern-day Zefat) is one of those cities located on a high hill just north of the lake, and people in Jesus’ day would have been familiar with its lights. It may just have been the very “city on a hill” Jesus had in mind when He talked about this subject in Matthew 5:14.

People in the first century used lamps to light their houses. Lamps were small, clay vessels that contained olive oil and a floating wick. When lit, the lamp was set on a well-positioned lampstand where it would provide “light to everyone in the house” (Matthew 5:15). No, the light was not as bright or convenient as our modern lighting, but it did provide adequate lighting as long as the wick was trimmed properly and the lampstand strategically located.

Because these lamps required fire for light, they were not extinguished when the household went to bed at night. Instead they placed a measuring bowl over the lamp to dim the light. Perhaps that is what our Lord had in mind when He said, “…neither do they hide it under a bushel…” (Matthew 5:15).

Night lights in Jesus’ day served a couple of functions. They dispelled darkness (the purpose of a lamp), and they gave direction (the purpose of a beacon/lighthouse). I think that is what the Lord had in mind for His light-bearers. As lights in the world, Christ followers are to dispel spiritual darkness, and warn of spiritual danger to all who will take notice.

Surely the apostle Paul had that in mind when he wrote to the Philippians, "That you may prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world" (Philippians 2:15).

So let your light shine! Don’t “hide it under a bushel.” If you know it, you’re probably humming or singing the old spiritual right now…

This little light of mine

I’m a gonna let it shine

Let it shine

Let it shine

Let it shine