Encouragement for Your Week: August 24-30
This Week’s Verse
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.”
– Matthew 5:14–15 (NIV)
Devotion
Jesus is the true light that shines for everyone (John 1:9). His light shows us the right way to live, especially when life feels dark or confusing. When we believe in Jesus and follow Him, we reflect His light in the world.
Jesus once said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). Because we follow Him, we now carry that light within us. That’s why Jesus calls His followers “the light of the world.”
Just like a city on a hill can’t be hidden at night, our light should shine brightly in this dark and broken world. People may try to ignore or even stop the light, but they can’t overcome it. As John 1:5 says, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
If you light a lamp, you don’t hide it under a bowl. That would make no sense. Instead, you put it where it can give light to everyone nearby. In the same way, we shouldn’t hide the light of Jesus that lives in us. If we keep it to ourselves, we let darkness win. But when we share it, we push back the darkness.
Let your light shine clearly and boldly, like a lamp on a stand. The more we let God’s light shine through us, the more it will light up the world around us.
There are many people in the world who are lost and don’t know what to do—they’re confused and searching for answers, like people who “cannot tell their right hand from their left” (Jonah 4:11). Be kind, be bold, and let your light shine today. The world needs it.
This Week’s Challenge
This week, challenge yourself to actively shine the light of Christ in someone’s life. Look for one specific way you can make a difference—whether it’s encouraging a friend who’s feeling down, helping someone in need without expecting anything in return, standing up for someone who’s being treated unfairly, or sharing your faith if the opportunity arises. Let your light shine, and trust that even small acts can push back the darkness.