The Jesus Glow
Have you ever heard someone say, “Oh, they’ve got the Jesus glow”? Maybe you’ve known a friend before and after they met Jesus and noticed the difference yourself—or perhaps someone has said the same about you: “Hm. Something is different about you. It’s like you glow or something.”
Recently, it’s become a trend to post before-and-after-Jesus pictures on social media, and this “glow” isn’t an exaggeration. While it’s not a literal, tangible glow, many people become almost unrecognizably different after encountering Christ. Jesus actually speaks about this transformation, using light as an illustration of the change that happens within us!
So, if you’ve ever noticed this “glow” in someone, you aren’t imagining things. Check out what Scripture has to say about it:
“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.’”
—John 8:12 (NLT)
“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. Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when it is unhealthy, your body is filled with darkness. Make sure that the light you think you have is not actually darkness. If you are filled with light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight were filling you with light.”
—Luke 11:33-36 (NLT)
“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. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”
—Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT)
First, Jesus calls Himself the light of the world. Then, He tells us that when we are filled with His light, it’s “as though a floodlight were filling us with light.” Finally, He commissions us to do something with this light—urging us not to hide what He has done in our lives.
Have you ever felt tempted to hide your light? Maybe shame from past mistakes makes you feel unworthy to represent Him. Maybe you’re afraid of losing old friends or being made fun of for choosing to follow Him.
I challenge you to think about the times you’ve noticed the light in others. Did it inspire you? Did it give you hope? Did it make you want that kind of light too? I know it does for me! And Jesus tells us that this is exactly the purpose of the light: “so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”
The miracle of the gospel is that Jesus came to die for sinners like you and me so that we could be made right with God. No one earns this, and no one can ever be “good enough.” Shame is a tactic of the enemy to stop us from sharing this good news.
Don’t let the darkness of shame or fear of people’s opinions extinguish your flame. No matter how long we’ve been following Jesus, we will never be perfect until we are with Him forever. We will make mistakes—that’s why we need His grace.
We have an important gospel message to share, and the simplest and most powerful way to do that is by letting His light shine through us.
Do you feel the urge to hide? Whether it’s fear of others’ opinions or shame from your past, take a moment today to talk to Jesus about it. Ask Him to help you be a bright light in the world for Him!
