Day 18: Be the Lighthouse
Matthew 5:14 …You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.
On the coast of North Carolina, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse stands as one of the tallest brick lighthouses in the United States. For over a century, it has warned ships of the dangerous Diamond Shoals—a stretch of shifting sandbars that has claimed countless vessels. In the black of night, when storms rage and the shoreline disappears, its sweeping beam pierces miles of darkness, guiding sailors to safety.
A lighthouse does not argue with the storm or try to outshout the waves. It simply shines. And by shining, it saves lives.
Followers of Christ are called to do the same. In a world that often feels lost in moral fog and spiritual night, we are not called to curse the darkness but to shine God’s light so others can see the way home.
Jesus’ words in Matthew 5 were radical. Rabbis usually called Israel a light to the nations, but Jesus looked at a handful of ordinary disciples and said, “You are the light of the world.” Our light is not our own brilliance; it’s the reflection of Christ within us. Just as the moon has no light apart from the sun, we shine because His Spirit lives in us.
Light exposes what’s hidden, points people toward safety, and offers hope when all seems lost.
Ephesians 5:13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.
Darkness is not defeated by anger or debate, it is expelled by light. That means our kindness, integrity, truth-telling, and willingness to share Christ are powerful. Even small, steady acts of faith can shift an atmosphere.
Ask yourself: does my life brighten the room or blend with the darkness? Do my words bring warmth and direction, or confusion and coldness? We’re not called to perfection, but we are called to reflect Jesus.
Today, notice where God has placed you; home, workplace, neighborhood. Those circles are your shoreline. Your job is not to light the whole ocean but to keep the lamp burning where you are.
Do one tangible thing today to “turn on the light.” It could be an encouraging word to someone discouraged, offering prayer, meeting a practical need, or gently sharing a Scripture. Pray, “Lord, help me shine so clearly that someone sees You.”