Verse of the Day
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Matthew 5:16 KJV
“In the same way, you should be a light for other people. Live so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:16 ERV
Lesson of the Day
Jesus commands us to let our lights shine. What He means by that is He wants us to live lives doing good works that point people to God.
When Jesus says “let your light shine,” He’s not telling us to show off. In fact, look at the end of the verse—the whole point is that people see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven, not you. Your light isn’t for drawing attention to yourself; it’s for pointing people to God. That’s the whole job.
And notice He says “let it shine,” not “make it shine.” You’re not manufacturing anything. The light is already in you—Jesus said “ye are the light of the world” in Matthew 5:14. He’s just telling you to stop hiding it. A candle under a basket is still a candle; it’s just useless. Same with us. We’re not called to be invisible Christians; we’re called to be seen—not so people praise us, but so they see God through us.
We must ask ourselves: When people look at our lives, do they see Jesus?
Encouragement
I have an aunt (my mother’s mother’s baby sister) who’s 103 years old. On her hundredth birthday, I was honored to write her memoir. As I researched her life, starting from her adolescent years, I was pleasantly surprised. She played the saxophone at Carnegie Hall and volunteered for many committees, including political committees, church committees, and committees in the city of Philadelphia. There was a riot in Philadelphia back in the ’60s. The neighborhoods were run down, so she went to every street in her neighborhood and landscaped their lawns. She did all of this and more while dealing with the loss of her sister (my grandmother, whom I never met), her mother, and her husband. Oh yeah, she also had to raise her son alone. At her party, there were so many people sharing how she touched their lives. She always gave of herself. Every comment was about her helping in some form or fashion. She is a Christian, and her life shows how our faith can shine through the way we help others. Her life is a perfect example of “letting your light shine.”
What have we done in our lifetimes so far? Ask yourself. If you come up with nothing or not much, don’t worry; there’s still time.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, You are the perfect example of how we should be. You help us when we’re in trouble. You help us whenever we’re in need. You provide shelter for us. You provide housing. You do so many good things for us. We are so grateful. Show us how we can let our lights shine. Lead us to people whom we can help. Give us visions for our purposes on this earth. Thank You for all that You do. In Jesus Christ’s name we pray, amen.