““Your lives light up the world. For how can you hide a city that stands on a hilltop? And who would light a lamp and then hide it in an obscure place? Instead, it’s placed where everyone in the house can benefit from its light. So don’t hide your light! Let it shine brightly before others, so that your commendable works will shine as light upon them, and then they will give their praise to your Father in heaven.””
Matthew 5:14-16 TPT
A few weeks ago, I was writing a message to a child who had just received a Jesus + Me book. As I wrote, the Holy Spirit showed me the profound importance of what I was declaring: “…you are the light of the world; continue radiating Jesus to the world.” Reflecting on that moment, I realized the immense weight of the duties Jesus has entrusted to us. It is vital that we never forget them. By calling us “the light of the world,” Jesus gave us both a duty and an identity. We are called to bring light wherever we go. Christ has placed a light so bright inside of us that it cannot be hidden. He likened us to a city set on a hill that simply cannot be concealed. Even distance cannot obscure a city radiating light. While those lights might not physically illuminate a far-off place, people at a distance will see life and hope reflecting from that city.
Jesus declared that He came into the world as a light so that everyone who trusts in Him would no longer be associated with darkness. He took on this nature for our benefit—to experience and walk in that light ourselves. This isn’t just a position Jesus placed us in; it is an extension of His very nature. He also said; “He is the exact representation of our Heavenly Father”. and scripture confirms that God is light and in Him, there is no darkness at all. Even God is beaming with this exact light, and through Christ, we are now qualified to share in that same radiant identity.
Three things come to mind when I think of darkness:
- Blindness to Truth: Darkness is anything that blinds you from the truth Jesus presented. As Ephesians 4:18 describes, it is being darkened in understanding and excluded from the life of God.
- Harmful Actions: It represents the unfruitful works of darkness (Ephesians 5:11)—actions and behaviors that separate us from the light.
- Separation from God: Since God is light, moving away from Him is a literal move into darkness. To be apart from Him is to exist without the source of all radiance.
As the light of the world you have been set free from everything associated with darkness. Jesus did not just liberate us, He gave us the gift of light to ensure we have the power to stay in it.
Before we go any further, I want you to understand that this light; which is the truth and the very essence of Jesus, is alive and active within you. You carry this benefit personally. Before we talk about radiating the world, you can radiate your own circumstances. The light you carry can shine into any specific area of your life that feels like darkness is trying to take hold of.
Transformation starts with us. Consider the Apostle Paul: he persecuted Christians and sought to destroy the church, believing he was defending God by ending the message of the Messiah. However, on the road to Damascus, Jesus appeared to him as a blinding light from Heaven. “Saul, why are you persecuting me?” Jesus asked. In that moment, Jesus transformed his heart and his mind. He clothed Paul with Heaven’s perspective and used him to advance the Kingdom. Paul was so completely clothed in truth that his light still shines today, inspiring us to arise and shine in our own generation.
Have you ever read about the man born blind in John 9:5? When Jesus healed him, He said: “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world”. The moment anyone meets Jesus, change is inevitable—and this man was no exception. When people saw him afterward, they were so shocked they thought they were looking at a different person. Some even said, “He just looks like him; it can’t be the same man.” But the man continued testifying to the miracle: “I was once blind, but now I see!” Jesus, the Light of the World, had given him his sight. Darkness was gone; he could finally see the birds in the sky, the trees, and the faces of his family. Even though many questioned him—trying to twist the meaning of the moment or instill fear and doubt in his heart—he remained filled with joy. He boldly told his critics, “If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.” The truth Jesus presented to him was far too real and satisfying to let anyone change his perspective. His life was completely different. That is exactly what happens when we meet Jesus: He changes our lives. He gives us new meaning and purpose, transforming us into lights so that whoever we meet will desire a life with Him.
As lights, we stand firmly on the truth, regardless of the potential consequences. We recognize only one ultimate outcome: Jesus. When other paths are presented to us, we refuse to acknowledge them as our own. Consider Joseph while he was working for Potiphar. Potiphar’s wife pursued him and tried to pressure him into a compromise. She even threatened him, essentially saying, “If you don’t, I’ll scream and say you forced yourself on me. Who do you think my husband will believe—me or you?” Despite the threat, Joseph chose to run. Even though he was ultimately thrown into prison, he never abandoned his principles. He refused to let his morals be contaminated by a momentary pleasure. There was so much at stake—more than he could have possibly understood in that moment—but he simply could not allow that darkness to dim his light. Samson on the other hand compromised his values at one point, and it cost him the very thing he had asked from the Lord.
When you embrace this identity, you cannot allow yourself to be involved in anything that brings dishonour to the Lord’s name. The Word of God acts as a compass, always directing you toward the right path. This way is tested and true—you don’t need to trial-and-error your way through life. Christ already endured the fire and came back in victory so that you wouldn’t have to. We have all the help we need from Heaven to ensure we remain on course. Learn to listen to our Father; He created us to walk in constant fellowship with Him and to fulfill everything He has sent us to do. By being obedient and listening to God, we walk precisely into His perfect will for our lives. Let’s be the generation that says, “If God said it, then I’ll do it”.
Refuse to limit how far the light inside you can travel. We live in a time where there are countless ways for the message we carry to reach more people. Enquire of the Lord, and when He speaks, listen and act. Let Him reveal a detailed plan for how He wants you to move; there are people waiting to hear the truth you carry. Prophet Isaiah said, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.” This light is always accompanied by the glory of our Father—the same glory that the elders and angels in Heaven encounter in new ways every time they lift their hearts from a bow in worship. There is profit in being the light of the world; there is a beauty and a glory within you that can never be taken away. When Moses spent time in the presence of God, the glory was so intense that he had to cover his face with a veil. From that moment on, normality was something he never knew again. Moses had discovered a depth of truth, perhaps a measure of truth that the Israelites were not yet ready to hear. This encounter with God’s presence was so profound that it changed him completely. When we first embrace this light (truth), it cleanses us; making us like Jesus—transforming us into His likeness in every area of our lives. Then, when the external radiation happens, it illuminates everything. It becomes unbearable to hold back; you can no longer hide it or keep it to yourself. This isn’t because you lack the will to stay quiet, but because you realize that everyone deserves to know it. As Jeremiah described in chapter 20, verse 9, this truth becomes like a burning fire shut up in your heart and your bones. It reaches a point where it is impossible to contain—you simply have to speak it. But you see, you’ve been prepared for such a moment. So go ahead—SHINE! Shine so brightly that only Jesus gets the glory. Extend your reach to a level where He is the only possible explanation for your impact.
You are the light of the world. Perhaps some rooms seem too big for you, but you have been enabled and called for exactly this. The moment you realize a task is too large, too hard, or far beyond your own strength, you can be certain you won’t be doing it alone. In that gap, a greater power and ability is about to be unleashed. I know your preparation might have looked like a reach for a thousand people or less, but the outcome will be ten thousand more. That’s God; He always goes beyond what we can imagine. So, be ready for that. Refuse to offer excuses for why something might not work out; the glory of the latter shall be greater than the former. There is more and better in you today than there was two weeks ago—or ever before. Your skills have been sharpened because you gave yourself time to grow; your knowledge has increased, your faith in God has deepened, and there are more people in your corner. We do not have to rely on our past mistakes. Those errors stayed exactly where they belonged—in the past. You won’t be repeating them; now, your journey is defined by precision, excellence, influence, and simply getting it done. So, knock! Go forth, because there is something undeniably different about this very moment. The light you carry can no longer be hidden.
One of the beautiful truths about the Positioned journey, is alignment. A moment of total surrender where we lay down our own will for His greater purpose. What we thought we knew no longer matters; instead, His plans and thoughts for us take center stage. When God positions us, He prepares us—spirit, soul, and body. Allow Him to prepare you for the nations, those rooms, and the lives where He wants you to radiate His glory. When He finally launches you, you won’t run out of energy or burn out. Because the source is divine, the flame is sustained without consuming the one who carries it.
Positioned family: it is time to light up our world. We have children who need to see us take up the positions only God can provide. We have siblings who need to see that His plan is always best, and elders who need to witness us becoming everything they have prayed we would be—and even more. We must understand that there have been countless prayers of intercession held for us; an entire Heaven is counting on us to radiate God’s glory. Therefore, do not hide your light. In any way that God asks you to step forward and represent His majestic self—do it. Whether in your office, your home, or anywhere else, let the toxicity of any environment be demolished by the light and truth you represent. We must understand that darkness cannot occupy the same space where we are present; if there is toxicity, our presence must challenge it. As children of the day, we represent the absolute goodness of our Father. Stand firm in that identity and refuse to compromise. You never know the weight of what might be lost if you compromise for even a second, a day, or a single moment.
Say this with me:
Dear Lord, thank you for cleansing me with Your truth and making me a light to the world. In this moment, I come into the full realization of my call in You. I take up the mandate to radiate Your light to the world, standing in the precision, excellence, and authority You have given me. I am the light of the world, and the truth I represent can never be hidden. As I arise and shine, Your children are inspired to do the same and even more; together, we bring all honour and glory to Your name. We pray that the world receives this truth and sees You in us.
Thank you for the Holy Spirit, who empowers us and fills us with the wisdom to be and to do. Nothing distracts us; nothing holds us back. At this very moment, the message of Jesus Christ is like a fire shut up in our bones. We recognize every channel You have made available to us, and we thank You for the resources.
Thank you for preparing and positioning us to light up the world.
In Jesus’ name, Amen!!!