Let Your Light SOOOOO Shine (Matthew 5:16)
Matthew 5:16, Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Nothing is more useful or necessary to man than light. Without light there would be no life. The same in true in the spiritual since. The light that we shine originates from the giver of light Jesus (John 8:12; 9:5; 12:46). When Jesus said that we are to be lights in the world, He was not talking about us producing light, but rather reflecting His light to those around us. The only way we can do this is to live in close communion and fellowship with Him day by day. There is no greater experience in all the world than walking in the light with Jesus Christ. Our light is of no benefit unless it is displayed for all to see. It is the nature of the child of God to do good works because that is what God is all about (Ephesians 2:10). We are called of God to shine the light of the Gospel. Jesus instructed His disciples that their lives were to be such that men may see their good works and glorify their Father which is in heaven. The word good here means ‘honest’. There are few things more spiritually harmonious with light than honesty. The result is that our Heavenly Father is glorified by our good works (our honesty) that reflect the light of the Gospel. You may feel that your light may seem very small, however, others see the greater light of God behind your sacrificial actions. The result of the good works that you do to others will cause them to look up to God and behold His glory. Jesus told us to let our light so shine that others may see our good “works”, not our good “words”. May your light shine through your good works (life-style) to others, not just through good words (lip-service). The most powerful way to overcome darkness in a room is to let the light in and the most powerful way to transmit the light of Christ is by doing Godly works in such a way that HE will get the glory for them. Keep in mind, Christians are the light of the world, but the light switch must be on. When the children of light do not separate from the children of darkness they lose their most powerful witness (Philippians 2:5). John 3:19, And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. All Christians are lights shining in different strengths and power. God has never saved a person that He has not had a work for that person. Light always travels in straight lines. As the light of the world, Jesus came to guide us by a straight path into the very presence of God. We are commanded by the Lord that ignited us as a light to shine forth in the world. Good works do not save, but they do attract others to Christ. Our purpose is to shine for Him as lights so that others can see the marvelous light in our lives that they may come to know Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Our purpose is to shine as lights so that others can see the marvelous light in our lives that they may come to know Jesus as Saviour and Lord. The ultimate good work is to turn others to righteousness. Daniel 12:3, And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. Jesus, in describing John’s ministry, spoke of John the Baptist as a burning and a shinning light (John 5:35). That is, he was a bright light. In John 1:8, John the Baptist was not the Light, rather a light. He simply reflected the glory of the Light as the moon does the sun. Illustration: Gabriel Mugmal, missionary to Ecuador. For months, the 27n year old faithfully preached from house to house his new found faith that he and his family embraced. Gabriel boldly shared his faith with other Quichua villagers high in the Andes Mountains of northern Ecuador. He challenged them to stop the idol worship that filled the area. One afternoon, 250 of his neighbors with torches in their hands forced him and his family from their home to a mountainside in Ecuador’s Andes. Furious, the crowd demanded that Gabriel denounce his words. When he refused, villagers doused him with gasoline the mob prepared to beat him and then to burn him alive. His idol worshipping neighbors almost burned him alive for preaching the Gospel. The thought, “Don‘t burn me,” raced through Gabriel’s mind. But he wasn’t afraid and began preaching to the crowd from the book of Genesis. Suddenly, the mob fell silent. The priest was so moved by Gabriel’s willingness to die for Jesus that he took Gabriel’s Bible, raised it before the crowd, and declared freedom to preach the Gospel. “The Word of God shall be preached throughout the entire world, “ he shouted. “You all are doing a good thing. Keep preaching the Gospel so that everyone can know Jesus.” Today, less than 200 yards from the location where Gabriel was nearly executed, more than 250 villagers meet for church every Sunday. The people of Naranjito are a light among the 300,000 Quichua people of northern Ecuador. As a result, Gabriel and those he has had the privilege of leading to Christ have started 30 Bible studies and churches in the neighboring villages. Prayer: Father, I know that You desire to shine brightly through my life. Though the world is getting darker may Your Light shine even brighter through me. Help me to reflect Your love so that mankind can see Your love through me. Help me so that my works will point others to You as Christ as our example. Amen.
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AuthorDr. Blackman is passionate about helping others grow in the grace of the Lord. His devotions are centered on how to grow closer to the Lord through a personal relationship with Christ. Archives
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