Go. Proclaim. Let.

“And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” Mark 16:15

Where does light shine the best and the brightest? The answer is in the darkest places. The people in the deepest darkness need light the most. As followers of Jesus, we have been commissioned as light-bearers. It is not our own light that we are called to shine, but the light of Christ that has been placed within us through the Holy Spirit. Our mission is clear: Go into the whole world and shine the light of the Gospel.

In order to carry out our mission, it is imperative that we not be intimidated by darkness. Light is never afraid of darkness. The opposite is true…darkness is afraid of the light. We must not be afraid to forge into the darkest spiritual places, for it is in the deepest darkness that our light will shine the brightest.

Let’s be honest, it can be scary to share our faith with others. It helps to remember that Jesus didn’t say, “Make your light shine.” Instead, He said, “Let your light shine.” We don’t have to be beautiful or brilliant to shine His light. We don’t have to be the smartest or the strongest or the most educated. We only have to be willing to let Christ shine through our lives.

This “letting” requires surrender. It requires humility and compassion. It requires boldness in word and deed. Most of all, it requires faith – faith that God will do what He promised in Romans 10:13… "Everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved,” and in Romans 10:17, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the Word of Christ.”

We must go and share the Gospel with the lost. If we don’t share, they don’t hear. And if they don’t hear, they will not call on His Name and be saved. Does God need us? No. He is God. Yet He has chosen to give us the incredible privilege of being part of His plan to accomplish His mission. Our part? Go…proclaim...let.

Jesus, Thank You for choosing to involve me in Your mission to spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth. When I am scared, help me to remember that I don’t have to make my light shine, but rather let Your light shine through my life. Help me to be bold and faithful to go, proclaim, and let my light shine. In Your name I pray, Amen.