Go and Shine

“Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:15-16

As lights in the world, Christ-followers are intended to illuminate and give light to others. We are candles that Christ Himself has lit. His plan in lighting us is not that we would be hidden or confined to one place, but that we would be sent into all the world to bring the light of the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

It is interesting that in Jesus’ first public sermon He explained that His followers are the light of the world, commanding us to shine our light in such a way that others see our good deeds and glorify God. Then, in His final words to His disciples before returning to heaven, recorded in Acts 1:8, Jesus said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Soon after, that promise was fulfilled and the Apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. They witnessed to the crowds gathered there about who Jesus was and what He had done on the cross, and 3,000 people repented of their sins and believed in Christ.

So we have these two bookends to Jesus’ public ministry on earth: Light of the world and Spirit-filled witnesses. Light and power. Shining and going. Where we live and to the ends of the earth. It is clear…we have been saved to shine as witnesses of the Gospel.

So how do we put our lives on display so that we give light to those around us? According to Matthew 5:16, it is by our good deeds. We should live in such a way that when others look at us, they see good deeds – but it doesn’t end there. The goal is for people to see past our good deeds to the God who is the Author of everything good in us. The light we shine is not our own. And the glory doesn’t belong to us, but to God.

So go and shine. Serve. Love. Witness. And as you do good, point others to the True Source of all light and goodness.

Jesus, You alone are worthy of praise. As I live out my faith, please remind me to always point others to You. As I serve, remind me that I am not what people need, you are. May any good work I do cause others to see past me to You so that You receive the glory You are due. In Your name I pray, Amen.