When Christ Lives Within

Jesus said, “You are the light of the world… let your light shine before others” (Matthew 5:14–16). This was not a command to manufacture light, but a description of what happens when Christ lives within us. Scripture makes this clear: “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). The cross is no longer only something we point to—it is the place where Christ now dwells in us. When our relationship with Him is alive and active, light becomes a natural expression rather than a forced effort.

Many believers feel pressure to “shine” in visible or impressive ways. But light does not come from trying harder; it comes from abiding. Jesus said, “Abide in Me, and I in you… apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:4–5). Fruit—including light—is the result of remaining connected to the source. When we stay rooted in Christ, His presence naturally radiates through our lives.

This light draws people living in darkness, often without a single word being spoken. Darkness may look like depression, addiction, emptiness, shame, or a life driven by image, success, or temporary pleasure. People living in these places are not drawn to religious performance—they are drawn to authentic presence. Light exposes darkness simply by existing. As Scripture says, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5).

Because Christ expresses Himself uniquely through each person, that light will look different in every life. One believer may reflect Christ through compassion and service, another through worship, another through quiet consistency, and another through recovery and restoration. These expressions are not competing—they are complementary. Paul reminds us, “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:4). Unity is found in Christ, not in uniform expression.

When we try to make ourselves shine, we shift the focus from Christ to self. But when we simply maintain relationship—prayer, surrender, honesty, and obedience—the light takes care of itself. Paul wrote, “We do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord” (2 Corinthians 4:5). The glow of a believer’s life is never about the believer; it is about the One who lives within.

God does not call us to be mirrors reflecting one another. He calls us to be lighthouses—anchored, authentic, and faithful—so that those living in darkness can find their way toward hope. The work is not in striving to shine, but in staying close to the Source. When Christ is central within us, the light will always be enough.