Christians often talk about “sharing the light.” I have found myself saying things like, “that person is such a light,” but not being entirely sure what it even means. Thankfully, II Corinthians 4:5-6 helps us with this concept: “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.”

You and I are not the light, and we shouldn’t try to be. We can only reflect what is shone onto us by God. God’s light is reflected by us when we know Jesus, the true Light. We may wonder if God can really shine His light through our sinful selves. But if God can make light shine out of the darkness at the creation of the world, then He certainly can shine through our dark, sinful selves. In fact, God delights in shining through us and gives us opportunities to share this light with others.

One of the ways I was able to share this light was through our choir tour this year. Over spring break, the FLBC Concert Choir went on a two-week tour to Minnesota, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The theme of our tour was “God’s Glory, Our Light.” Music has a way of creating a sense of awe and glory. Instead of using this feeling to elevate ourselves, we prayed that the music would remind both us and the people listening of God’s glory and what He has done for us in Christ. Before every concert we would spend time in prayer for those who were going to hear our message because only God knows where people are at spiritually. Sharing this message was a wonderful way to be a light to hundreds of people over the tour. Some of the most special times to me were the conversations we were able to have with congregation members, our host families, and with each other. I am so thankful for the opportunity to serve on choir tour.

I have just graduated from FLBC, but I know that sharing the light doesn’t stop after choir tour or at the end of my time at Bible College. God calls us to reflect His glory and share His light in everything we do. This fall, I am pursuing a career in nursing, and I am looking forward to the ways I can serve others through it. As a nurse, I can help people with their practical physical needs. But also, when people are sick, there is sometimes more of an open door to share the gospel with them, as well. I am also excited to be trained in a health profession because it will open different ways to possibly serve on mission trips, at Bible camps, or in crisis pregnancy clinics in the future. I pray that God will give me opportunities, wisdom, and courage for how He wants me to reflect His light in this vocation in the future.

One of our choir songs this year has been meaningful to me because it is a beautiful prayer that exhibits this idea of reflecting the light of Christ to others: “Help me spread your fragrance everywhere I go. Flood my soul with your spirit and love. Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly that my life may only be a radiance of yours. Shine through me and be so in me that every soul I know will feel your presence in my soul. Let them look up and see no longer me but only you. Amen” (Prayer, by René Clausen). May this be the prayer of all our hearts.

Bria Larson [FLBC second-year student] is a member of St. Paul’s Free Lutheran, Fargo, N.D.