Let Your Light Shine!

For Sunday, May 25, 2025:

Luke 11:33 NLT, Jesus speaking: “No one lights a lamp and then hides it or puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house.”

I don’t just want to SEE the light – I want to ENJOY the light! I want it to light up the world around me so that I can see everything! Let’s be honest. We don’t turn on a lamp to see light. We turn on the lamp because we need to see something else. I want to read my book. I want to eat my food. I don’t want to trip on the rug. Turn on the light!

Light is a great analogy for goodness. Jesus is my light, showing me the way. If I am the light, I can shine before my friends to show them the way. If my friends become light, we can share a brightly lit worship experience!

In the Bible, light is often associated with goodness, and darkness with evil. Light always wins. If light intrudes on darkness, it all becomes light. If darkness tries to encroach on light, it too will become light.

So let your light shine before the world, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven! (Matt. 5:16)

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Let Your Light Shine!

 January 8, 2024 Monday Message:

Mark 4:21 NLT: “Jesus asked his followers, ‘Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed? Of course not! A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine.’”

In my opinion, Jesus was asking a rhetorical question, one that does not require an answer. Or it could be that the answer is so obvious that everybody already knows. You light a lamp so that you can see in stuff in the dark. Only a fool would light a lamp and then hide it under a basket! The KJV calls it a “bushel.” Baskets into which field workers gathered crops held a “bushel,” meaning eight gallons, often referred to as a ‘bushel basket,’ or simply a ‘bushel.’ Now let’s all sing a chorus of, “This little light of mine…” “Hide it under a bushel?” “NO!” “I’m gonna let it shine…” for Jesus!

Let’s move on. Have you ever read a Bible passage and thought you understood the whole thing; then re-read it later, and discovered a whole new, much deeper meaning? Friends, the scripture didn’t change! But our minds were supernaturally opened to deeper understanding. Jesus said that “The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given. And you will then receive even more! That’s why I go for total immersion in the Jesus water. We want to be “all in” for the King!

  "To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.” So listen to Jesus’ teaching; pay attention!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Shine like Jesus!

September 18, 2023 Monday Message:

Philippians 2:15b NLT: “Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.”

Christians are to live pure lives. The Greek literally means having no means of retaliation. Christians do no harm, and it appears that they could not do any harm! Spurgeon writes that Christians, “have no teeth with which to bite, no fangs with which to sting, no poison with which to slay.”

Our job description as a believer is to stand out in a perverse world. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.” Since he’s gone ahead to prepare a place for us in eternity, we are to shine for him here on earth. We can be a beacon of hope in a world that cares little. We can and should love our neighbors and figure out what we can do that would be helpful.

When the world looks at a Christian, they should see Jesus!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Full-time Christian!

For Sunday, September 17, 2023:

Philippians 2:12b NLT: “Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.”

Some Christians only look like Christians on Sunday mornings. But when church is out, they become indistinguishable from the pagan culture surrounding them. Paul advises us that that’s wrong!

Being a Christian, a GOOD Christian, is a 24-7 job. We should be the perpetual light in our little corner of the world. We should look like Christians, act like Christians and sound like Christians full-time, not just on Sunday mornings! Jesus wants to walk with us for our entire lives, not just one hour per week.

Jesus doesn’t just forgive us, love us and grant us salvation on Sunday mornings. He has taken on a never-ending responsibility to care for his flock, the believers. Therefore believers should take on the perpetual task of bringing the light of Jesus into our world. We’re a part of the team!

Shine – full-time!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Shine!

May 15, 2023 Monday Message:

John 8:12 NLT: “Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

God is the light of heaven, and Jesus is the light of the world. It’s the light of life, of eternal life. In biblical analogies, light is always good and darkness always points to evil. Honorable people do business in the light where everything can be seen; everything is out in the open. Evil, on the other had, is clandestine, sneakily hidden to conceal its true purpose.

Curiosity makes me listen to the accounts of those who have had near-death experiences; those who medically died, but were somehow revived. As they died, they recall being drawn to the brightest of light at the end of a tunnel. Those who recover have remarkably similar stories. They didn’t want to leave the light, but it was not yet their time. They want to go back again when it IS their time.

It’s said that there is no sun in heaven, and no sun is needed. If we’re in heaven, we’ll be in the presence of the Lord, and that will be more than enough light!

I remember singing, “Shine, Jesus, Shine!”

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Let Your Light Shine!

For Thursday, January 19, 2023:

Matthew 5:14-15 NLT, Jesus speaking: “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.”

Remember singing the song, “This Little Light of Mine?” We are to let our light shine, let it shine, let it shine! The first verse asks if we should hide our light under a bushel basket, and everyone shouts, “NO!” If we are entrusted with light, hope for the world, we need to proudly display it so everyone can see!

Jesus is the light of the world, and he’s telling his followers that they too represent hope for the world. It’s a compliment and a commission. Those who spread the Good News of Jesus are teaching not only personal salvation, but also the only way the world will ever know peace.

Believers must have a greater concern than themselves. Shining is good, but we need people to shine our light onto. Jesus said that we are either salt or light, either fulfilling or failing our mission.

Light is needed because the world is in darkness, and if our Christianity imitates the darkness, we have nothing to show the world. To be effective we must seek and display the Christian’s differentiating value, that which sets us apart. We can positively affect the world by becoming more like Jesus!

Shine your light everywhere you go!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Shine!

For Thursday, September 1, 2022:

​Philippians 2:15 NLT: “Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.”

​Believers are to set an example for the rest of the world. We are the ones following God’s instructions, using the life of Jesus as the model for how we all should live.

​Do everything as if Jesus was looking over your shoulder, because he is! Live as if you’re working for the Lord, because you are! Do your best. Be quick to forgive. Love the Lord and love your neighbor. Be thankful. Figure out what you can do that would be helpful, something that would add value to the situation.

​Make your life an offering to the Lord!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Let Your Light Shine!

For Saturday, July 9, 2022:

Mark 4:21 NLT: “Jesus asked them, “Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed? Of course not! A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine.”

Of course the ‘light’ is the Good News, the saving grace of Jesus and the fact that the Kingdom of God is at hand. All who are privileged to know God’s Good News should share it with others, not keep it a secret. Believers are purveyors of hope!

In Jesus’ time as in our time, people are investigating, seeking the truth. Jesus goes on to say that, “Everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”

We sing, “This Little Light of Mine,” to remind us to freely share the Gospel and not keep it under a bushel basket!

Believers are early adopters of the Good News!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Shining Light!

For Saturday, January 1, 2022

Isaiah 60:1 TLB: “Arise, my people! Let your light shine for all the nations to see! For the glory of the Lord is streaming from you.”

Darkness is for lying down; light is for rising up. Darkness is for gloom and sleep; light is for shining. Since believers have been filled with the light of Jesus, it’s time to shine! After all, he said, “I am the light of the world!”

It’s the first new day of a new year. What better time to let your light shine?

"Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Shine!

For Sunday, August 30, 2020. 

Matthew 5:16 NIV: “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Followers of Jesus are adopted into the Holy Family and filled with the joy of the Lord! As a group, they tend to be much happier than those whose eternal destination is uncertain. In the Bible, light shines from goodness and evil lurks in darkness. Jesus is using that analogy, encouraging believers to let their light, their newfound joy, shine into the world! 

We wouldn’t light a lamp and then hide it under a basket! That wouldn’t make any sense! We can’t force people to be Christians; it’s a decision each of us must make for ourselves. Christianity grows by attracting others. They see our light shining, our joy, and want what we have! As friends of Jesus, we gladly share the Good News!

By the way, we don’t do our “good deeds” to get into heaven. Jesus has already reserved our place in the hereafter. We do good deeds out of gratitude for what Jesus did for us. 

So don’t be a ‘closet believer.’ Rather, let your light shine into the world and see what God will do with it! Many may find hope in seeing your shining light!

Blessings to all on this Sunday! 

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Can You See the Light?

May 02, 2011 Monday Message:

Jesus: “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” John 8:12

What would our world be without light? We’d be cold. We couldn’t go outdoors, and we wouldn’t want to. We couldn’t see anything. Life as we know it would not exist.

But WITH light, we’re warm and we can see things. Sometimes people get depressed during the winter when there isn’t enough light. But even just one bright, sunshiny day can lift everyone’s spirits, and the darkness is soon forgotten. God put the sun in the sky, and we count on each day’s rotation of the earth to bring us daybreak at the proper time. That’s fine for the light in the sky — but what about the Light of the World, Jesus?

In Psalm 27:1a, David says, “The LORD is my light and my salvation.” So it’s certainly good to want to have God shine into our lives. Let’s look at what might be wrong if we’re having difficulty seeing the light.

First, we may have turned away from the light. Perhaps something else caught our attention, and we followed it instead. Just as each afternoon the earth turns away from the sun, so too can we turn away from the light of the world. But just as each morning the earth seeks out daylight, when we sense darkness in our lives we too need to return to the light.

Next, something might have come between the light and us, like an eclipse. It could be a family member, a job, a hobby or something else altogether. Has it ever seemed like when you try to focus on Jesus, something gets in the way? Remove it. We all need a clear view of the light.

Finally, you might have your eyes closed! I know, it’s hard to believe, but the Bible is full of people who appeared to look right at Jesus but apparently didn’t see or understand. Let’s keep our eyes, our minds and our hearts wide open so that we can see the light.

In each of the above scenarios, notice that the light never stopped shining. The problem was never with the light — the problem is with our visualization of the light. Each day, make a commitment to face the light, open both eyes, and let nothing come between you and the light of the world.

Remember, “The Lord is God, shining upon us.” Psalms 118:27a

Norton Lawellin

Light of the World

October 11, 2010 Monday Message:

Jesus: “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” John 8:12 NLT

It’s October, and my church, like many others, is well into its annual giving campaign. We always have a theme, and in recent years it’s been about Christ’s light. I especially like this year’s theme, “Reflecting Christ’s Light.” Let’s take a look.

A journey makes more sense when we know the destination. As Christians, our destination - our goal - is to be closer to Jesus, to live our lives more like Jesus lived His life. If we could live like Jesus lived, say the things He said, and do the things that He did, we’d all feel like we were in pretty good standing with the Father. We’d be assured of salvation, right?

Well, not really. Being like Jesus is a worthy goal. But unfortunately, since we’re human, we come up short every time. Nothing we can do will assure our salvation. It’s out of our hands! Justification is a gift from God, and redeeming mankind was the mission of Jesus. We are saved by His grace alone, not by our efforts.

So as our Christian walk brings us closer to Jesus, remember that it is His light - not our light - that shines. His is the true heavenly light, the light that leads to life.

Let that light of Jesus, shining through us and reflecting off of us, be the light that shines into the world. Let His light so shine…

Norton Lawellin

I’ll be teaching at Chapel this Friday, Oct. 15, at New Hope Center, Metro Hope Ministries in south Minneapolis. “Samson – Big Enough to Fail!”