Let Us Light Our World Together

Go Light Your World

Lyrics by Christopher M. Rice

There is a candle in every soul
Some brightly burning, some dark and cold
There is a Spirit who brings fire
Ignites a candle and makes His home

Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the hopeless, confused and torn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world

Frustrated brother, see how he's tried to
Light his own candle some other way
See now your sister, she's been robbed and lied to
Still holds a candle without a flame

Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the lonely, the tired and worn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world
Take your candle, and go light your world

We are a family whose hearts are blazing
So let's raise our candles and light up the sky
Praying to our Father, in the name of Jesus
Make us a beacon in darkest times

Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the helpless, deceived and poor
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world

Carry your candle, run to the darkness
Seek out the hopeless, confused and torn
Hold out your candle for all to see it
Take your candle, and go light your world

Take your candle, and go light your world

This was the song we used to wrap up this summer's book chat on Jamie Erickson's book Holy Hygge. We gathered around a "fake" firepit, held candles and listened/sang this poignant song.  The words floated around our church's fellowship hall, resonating in our minds as a call to action...a much needed call to action.  Our world needs our light...the Light...and if we don't carry it into the darkness...who will?

The song starts by reminding us that there is a candle in every soul.  And indeed, there is.  Jesus Himself talks to us about it.  He is the Light of the World (John 8:12) and since He is in us, we have His Light too, and we are supposed to let it shine!  He told us so in His Sermon on the Mount:

“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. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5: 14-16

However, the question is: what's the state of our candle? Is it brightly burning? Is it dark and cold? Is it somewhere in the middle? Is it high upon a stand? Or is it hidden under a bowl?  Honestly, at this time, I don't know what the state of my candle is...

I know darkness has not and will never overcome Light (John 1: 5) No matter how much the world rejects the Light because they love darkness, Light wins!  But in the meantime...what am I doing with my Light? I worry it might be too dim or too hidden.  I worry it is not powerful or even visible enough for others to see it.  I think of my surroundings at work, for example and I think, what can my little light do here, all alone? And I get even more discouraged. I feel so helpless.

The other day, however, I read a brief devotional in Our Daily Bread that addressed this in a very encouraging way.  It reminded the readers that being "the light of the world" is not a solo act.  And it pointed to Ephesians 5:8 where Paul calls believers "children of light" and how we should live as such.  Then it went on to explain that, "being light in the world is a collective effort, the work of the body of Christ, the work of the church." And that when we get discouraged, "thinking our life testimony is just one little dot in a midnight culture of pitch black, we might take assurance from the Bible that we are not alone.  Together, as God guides us, we make a difference and glow a brilliant light." Like Paul continues to say, we must take advantage of every opportunity and "be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Together as one church, one body.

Today, as I remember our big circle of about 30+ women gathered together around the glowing, fake firepit, each one carrying a candle and singing "songs from the Spirit" I see this coming to life.  I see the power of our individual lights when they are not one single dot in the dark, but many dots coming together to form something bright and beautiful.  I see how it is impossible for darkness to overcome the Light.  

We are not one single dot on the vastness of the night sky.  We are, "an easily recognized group of stars that appears to be located close together," a constellation.  And there is a brilliance in a constellation that is impossible to deny.

If we each carry our candle, together, we can certainly light the world.

May the One Who Is The Light help us carry His candle that is in our souls alongside other believers so we can let it shine brightly in the darkness of the moment that we live in.  In the Precious Name of Jesus.  Amen!