What did Jesus mean when He said, “You are the light that gives light to the world”? (Matthew 5:14 NCV).
And yet, in another moment, He declared, “I am the light of the world. The person who follows me will never live in darkness but will have the light that gives life.” (John 8:12 NCV).
Even in the Old Testament, God spoke of a continual light:
“Aaron will keep the lamps burning in the Meeting Tent from evening until morning before the Lord; this is in front of the curtain of the Ark of the Agreement. This law will continue from now on.” (Leviticus 24:3 NCV).
So, what’s with all this talk about burning lamps and light? It’s actually pretty fascinating when you take a deeper look.
Different translations give us slight variations in meaning: "keep them burning" (English Version), "tend the lamps" (NIV), "set them up" (New Jewish Version), "keep in trim" (New English Bible).
The common thread? Keep the light burning.
The lamp in the Meeting Tent was a symbol of Christ—just like everything in the Old Testament ultimately points to Him. He is the everlasting light.
But when He ascended into heaven, He handed the torch to us.So, what does that look like today?
We love, we serve, we show kindness, we forgive, and we help those in need. That’s how our light shines. But it doesn’t stop there.
Remember one translation said “tend the lamps”? That means we also need to take care of our own light. We do this by studying God’s Word, praying, worshiping, and even through confession, repentance, and seeking forgiveness.
That’s how we tend our lamp.
On a side note—when we dive into Scripture, even in the simplest ways, we uncover treasures that help us grow, mature, and serve God and others better.
These truths anchor us, fill us with hope, and equip us to walk boldly, no matter what storms come our way.
Maybe today is a good day to check in—how bright is your light? Jesus put it plainly:
“And people don’t hide a light under a bowl. They put it on a lampstand so the light shines for all the people in the house. In the same way, you should be a light for other people. Live so that they will see the good things you do and will praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:15-16 NCV).
God doesn’t just make life better—He is better than life itself. As we serve, as we shine, we bring Him joy and love others in the way they need it most.
LORD, help our light shine in new and unique ways. IJNIP, amen. ❤️
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