Let Your Light Shine

“If the front porch light is on, then trick-or-treaters are welcome there,” my parents would tell me when I bounced through the streets dressed as Pocahontas, or Belle, with my candy basket and little brother in tow.

I remember sighing when we would pass by a home with a dark front porch, wondering why they chose not to participate in the costume and candy madness unfolding outside. As I’m growing older and am a mom, I understand there are countless reasons people don’t have their porch lights on. As well, I understand that many, like my family, hand out candy and have kids who dress up in costumes and get candy from the neighbors.

Last year, we moved into a new neighborhood—and much to our surprise, this place was the town’s Halloween hotspot. The neighbors’ kids had wiped out our candy stash within the hour, and our front porch pumpkins looked rather bare in comparison to others’ grand décor.

After that, we knew we wouldn’t be caught unprepared again. This October, we are well equipped with a giant inflatable and a slew of multicolored pumpkins lining the front steps. The best additions, though, are our porch lights. In an attempt to be extra festive, we changed out all of our home’s outside lights from their basic white to a fun purple. Now, when you turn on our street, you can’t help but notice the purple glow that stems from every corner of the yard and every security light.

Within the first day, two neighbors stopped to ask where we got those “cool” lights from, and since then, I’ve thought a lot about those lights. Especially, when thinking about Jesus Christ’s message to have our “light” shine for others through the moral ways we live.

“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good deeds and moral excellence, and [recognize and honor and] glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16 AMP)

It may not be as easy as changing out a few lightbulbs, but I believe with all my heart it’s worth it to shine the light of Christ by how we live. We can start by not judging others because of how they do or don’t celebrate Halloween. Each day, we can repent of any darkness in our lives and clear the way for God to shine, sharing it proudly for the world to see—and using it all for His glory.

Today, if your porch light is off when it comes to living in such a way that He is glorified, you’re not only missing out on a lot of fun, but also fulfillment, and a great big community that is always ready to meet you with open arms.

So, today and every day, let’s leave our porch lights on!

~

Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified® Bible, Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.