Don’t Hide Your Light

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells us not to hide our light under a bushel. Do you know what that means? If you’re not familiar with ancient oil lamps, the oil is put in the top opening and the wick is put in the other opening, which is similar to a candle. It was typical for desert homes back then to have fifteen to twenty oil lamps around the house at night. Getting these lamps to light could be challenging; it’s like trying to start a campfire without matches or lighters. 

Whenever the last person of the house left for the evening, they would leave one lamp lit and cover it with a bushel, which was a container that measured dry goods. When they returned home, the house was cold and pitch dark. They simply took the bushel off the one lamp that was still lit, and used it to light all the other lamps in the house, and maybe light a fire as well. So basically, this acted as an ancient light switch. And boom, the house is full of light! 

Friend, Jesus is speaking to us through this image. Sometimes we are like this lamp, but we have the bushel on, and the world is dark. But all you need to do is take the bushel off and watch what happens to those around you. Many of us don’t see ourselves that way. We think we are just blown-out lamps, but the Lord says, no, you’re already lit, you’ve already got everything you need! I encourage you to see what God can do when you take the bushel off!