In our times of community praise and worship we often sing songs using the theme of light. Two particular songs spring to mind for me, ‘The Light of Christ’ by Donald Fishel, and ‘In your light we see light’ by John Keating.
There is something profoundly moving about the idea of Christ’s light shining within us. Light is one of Scripture’s most enduring images – a symbol of God’s presence, guidance, purity, and hope. When we speak of the light of Christ, we are speaking of the very life of God illuminating the world through His Son and, astonishingly, through us.
From the opening words of Genesis, God speaks light into existence, pushing back the darkness and establishing order where there was chaos. That same creative, life-giving light appears again in the Gospel of John:
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:5
Christ is not merely a bearer of light; He is the Light – the One who reveals the Father, exposes truth, and brings healing to the shadowed places of our hearts.
When we encounter Christ, His light does more than comfort us. It transforms us. Paul writes, “For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8). Notice the shift: not simply in the light, but light itself. Christ’s radiance becomes our identity. His presence reshapes our character, our desires, and our purpose.
Yet this transformation is not meant to be hidden or hoarded. Jesus tells His disciples,
You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden.
Matthew 5:14
The light we carry is not our own brilliance but the reflection of His glory. We shine because He shines. And the world desperately needs that light – not the harsh glare of judgment, but the warm, steady glow of grace, compassion, and truth.
Living in the light of Christ means allowing His presence to illuminate every corner of our lives. It means letting His love expose the fears we hide, the wounds we carry, and the sins we excuse.
Light reveals, but it also heals. When Christ shines on us, He does so not to shame us but to restore us.
In Your light we see light.
Psalm 36:9
His radiance helps us see ourselves clearly and see others with the eyes of mercy.
And as His light fills us, it naturally flows outward. Think of a candle being lit from another candle – the flame is shared, not diminished. In the same way, the more we allow Christ to shine in us, the more we become instruments of His hope in the lives of others. A gentle word, a patient response, a quiet act of service – these are small lights, yet in a dark world, even the smallest light can guide someone home.
The theme of Christ’s light also reminds us that darkness does not have the final word. We all walk through seasons where shadows feel heavy – grief, uncertainty, loneliness, or spiritual dryness. But Christ’s light is not fragile. It does not flicker in the wind. It is steady, faithful, and victorious.
The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear?
Psalm 27:1
When we anchor ourselves in Him, we discover a courage that does not come from our circumstances but from His unchanging presence.
As we carry His light into our daily lives, we become part of God’s ongoing work of renewal. We shine in workplaces that feel weary, in families that need reconciliation, in communities longing for justice and peace. We shine not by striving to be impressive, but by staying close to the One who is Light itself. The more we abide in Him, the more naturally His radiance flows through us.
So today, let the light of Christ rise in your heart again. Let it warm what has grown cold, brighten what has grown dim, and guide what has grown uncertain. And as it fills you, allow it to spill over into the world around you. You may not always see the impact, but God does. Light has a way of reaching farther than we imagine.
May we walk as children of the light – steady, hopeful, and radiant with the love of Christ – until the day when His glory fills all things and darkness is no more.
Top image credit: Members of covenant communities gather to worship the Lord together, photo © Sword of the Spirit, 2001, 2026.
Mike Cullimore is a National Coordinator of the Lamb of God Community with branches throughout New Zealand. He and his wife Carol have been married 47 years. They live in the Marlborough Sounds at the top of New Zealand’s South Island. They have one son and two daughters and three awesome grand-daughters.