Let Your Light Shine

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.  Matthew 5:16

Intention comes up much as our Lord Jesus gave His great sermon. The Pharisees who prayed on the street corners intended for themselves to be seen and glorified. Jesus came down on them. Letting your light shine before other persons by good works glorifies God. But how do we be seen without desiring to be seen? We need some good help in this. The light that shines from us lives in us only because He gave Himself for us. As we learn in John 8:12, Jesus is the light of the world. But wait, didn't He just say in v14 of the great sermon that 'you', as in those He was speaking to were the light of the world? So, it would appear that the light of the world can shine through and from any who do good works. Jesus would later say in John 9:5, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” This light therefore is not dependent upon His physical presence in the world. Of course to do good works without self-centeredness, we must have His Spirit in us. 

Whew! I feel like that confused pioneer who, when he was told to circle the wagons, took off on a run around the wagons. There are those times when I feel like a tiny transmission hooked up to the massive power of the engine that is the Lord's Word, and immediately I start slipping and spinning as it overpowers my abilities. Perhaps it is like trying to grasp the light of the Sun in my hand. It just isn't possible for me. 

Have a wonderful Friday in Christ Jesus as we ponder on His light!

Bucky