Hide It Under a Bushel?

By Alethia McBrayer

There was a man that had been a Christian for years and finally dared to talk to one of his co-workers. He was talking to his co-worker about the gospel and his co-worker asked him where he went to church. The man said “the church of Christ.” His co-worker was shocked and said, “I do too!” And the man told his preacher that when he said that he felt so disappointed in himself and his co-worker. He told the preacher that he had worked with that man for twenty years and he never knew that he was a Christian and his co-worker never knew that he was.

In Matthew 5, Jesus talks about the beatitudes but then He goes in shining our light. Matthew 5:14-16 He says:

“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

In this verse Jesus says that we are to show people that we are Christians. We are to “shine our light” and we are not supposed to hide it like… “A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Everyone should know that you’re a Christian. One way is to teach! Teach the lost! Help them to understand Christianity.

Jesus told His disciples to “Go unto all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Matthew 16:15).

Gospel means “good news”. If you had good news would you hide it? No! Of course not. You would share it with everyone. And that is exactly what we should be doing with God’s Word- we should shine our light and tell everyone.

“Hide it under a bushel…”

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God to salvation to everyone that believes; to the Jew first, and also the Greek” (Romans 1:16).

Do people know that you are a Christian, or do you hide your light? If you do, I encourage you to shine your light and give glory to the Father! There is nothing better than saving a lost soul. That’s why we are on this earth, isn’t it? We are to do the will of our Father who is in heaven.

“…No! I’m gonna let it shine! Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!”