When Jesus called His disciples the light of the world, He wasn’t speaking into a vacuum—He was speaking into a world already wrapped in darkness. In Scripture, “darkness” symbolizes moral corruption, spiritual blindness, and cultural decay just like the examples I listed on Sunday. But the truth is, darkness never retreats on its own. It spreads—unless light is present.

Light is designed to confront darkness. That’s why Jesus warns against hiding a lamp under a basket (Matt. 5:15). A hidden light may still be real, but it’s rendered useless. In the same way, a Christian who refuses to live boldly for Christ in a culture of lies loses the impact they were meant to have.

So...
If you find yourself shrinking back from cultural resistance, remember: light doesn’t need permission to shine—it only needs exposure. Darkness will resist you, but it cannot overcome Christ in you.

So here’s the challenge—don’t just shine where it’s safe. Shine where it matters. In your home, in conversations, in your community—speak and live in such a way that lies are exposed and people are pointed to Christ.

Call out one area of “darkness” you see in your circle. Pray over it and intentionally shine Christ’s truth into it this week.

Lord, darkness feels heavy at times, but You are greater. Help me not to hide or compromise, but to shine clearly. Let my life point to You, not to me. When people see light in me, may it be a reflection of Christ alone. Amen.