In
the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may
see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
Matthew
5:16 (NRSV)
Many years ago, when I was
embarking as an AFS exchange student to Quillota, Chile, Dr. Glen
Harris (our pastor at First Presbyterian) gave me a New Testament
with this passage highlighted. Since then this has always been
one of my favorite Bible verses. It has three parts that
instruct us on how to live.
let
your light shine before others
We should be a light and not be
in darkness. To do this we must seek the way of the Lord and
reach out to others. It also means that we are not to hide this
light “under the bushel basket.” As we seek the way of the
Lord, we are filled with His Spirit and we are to let this Spirit
shine through us in our actions.
so
that they may see your good works
We need to constantly strive to
do good works, because that is what God desires. Others are
watching us, because we proclaim that we are Christians. When
we stumble, others will see this and decide it is OK or conclude that
we are hypocritical and being a Christian is no big deal. But
when we do what is right and good we glow and send forth a great
light that says we are loved and so are you.
give
glory to your Father in heaven
When we glorify our Father in
heaven by doing good works in His name, others will see the good
works and Jesus’s love flowing through us and want to also give
glory to the Father by doing good works and rejoicing.
This is how Jesus wants us to
live and spread the Good News by being an example through our lives
of the saving power of His Grace.
Dear Lord, Let me live my
life glorifying God and letting my light shine forth and so that
others may see it and then turn to glorify you also. Holy
Spirit guide me so that I can spread the Good News of Jesus
sacrificial love to save us. In Jesus name, Amen.
David Zimmer
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