It’s a simple song, but it has a profound message—straight from Scripture—”This Light of Mine”.

It comes from a the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus tells us that His disciples are the light of the world (Matt. 5:14). Let’s allow this children’s song based on the Master’s teaching to remind us of some important Christian basics.

First of all, the world needs your light.

This little light of mine

I’m gonna let it shine,

Lights make a difference in a dark room, and the world is a dark place. You become the “light of the world” with your Christ-like deeds, attitudes, words, mercy, and message. And as the song says, it really does take a deliberate choice and effort on our part to “let it shine”. Are you letting your light shine?

Many times, of course, our lights will be unwelcome in the world of darkness. “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.” John 3:19. And with the opposition of the world, there will be a temptation to hide our light, become a secret disciple. But the song encourage us:

…Hide it under a bushel? No!

I’m gonna let it shine

Jesus told the disciples at the Sermon on the Mount that no one lights a lamp and puts it under a bushel or bowl. You lit the candle or lamp to shed light and make difference in the room; putting it under a bushel or bowl would be the opposite of what you need. The world needs the light of Jesus shining in our lives.

Naturally, Satan would like nothing better than to darken your light, lessening your influence in his world of darkness, or blow it out altogether, a return to darkness. But…

…Don’t let Satan blow (wwwhhh) it out.

I’m gonna let it shine

Satan tries to blow our our light through sin in our lives. He’s always got his lips puckered up for a light-dimming wwwhhh by entangling us in sin. Better still, he thinks, if he can blow out the light altogether and return the disciple to the darkness. Sin is the air in Satan’s wwwhhh; that can cause our light’s flame to flutter or go out completely; don’t let him near.

Lastly, we sing…

…All around the neighborhood

I’m gonna let it shine

…Let it shine all the time;

Let it shine!

Whether at school or work or in the neighborhood or in the coffee shop or the store or the whatever, let your light shine. In the morning or lunchtime or afternoon or commute time or game time or evening or night time, let it shine all the time, let it shine.

Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;” Matthew 5:14. Be the light, out on a lampstand, shielded from the wind, up on a hill for all to see! This is how the dark world gets changed!