Let your light so shine
Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Christ is the light God sent to this world to give hope, peace and direction in the world that is full of the darkness of sin and the devil, the same light is given to us at salvation, in which our life becomes the light that illuminate the world
The light in us is His light, the indwelling Christ, the Holy Spirit within us. We have that light shining through our lives if our actions reflect the nature of Christ, His love, compassion, and forgiveness. His light shines through our attitudes, words, and deeds.
When people see that our lives have been changed so that we have Jesus' values and see the power of God at work in us, they will agree that we are truly what we claim to be . The Christlike life is the platform on which individual testimony becomes convincing.
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.
Letting one's light shine is not an arrogant manner of behaviour. One should simply not be ashamed to live the christian life in the midst of his community, by living the principles of God in the community will give hope to those who desire an escape from the world that is in bondage of darkness.
By shining our light we reflect our good works to the society we live in and also glorify our father that is in heaven,
If no light shines from our life, it is either we have no relationship with Christ or we are bringing disgrace and dishonour to Him. It is a sad thing for someone to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and still continue to live an openly sinful life.
It brings dishonour to Christ and the gospel. It is a stumbling block for unbelievers. It is certainly not effective in convincing anyone that Christ has the power to transform lives. Our responsibility as believers is to have lives so transformed by the Word and the inward presence of Christ that everyone can see His light reflected in our acts of kindness.
Consider the characters who shined their light in the midst of the darkness in their society.
1. Joseph
Genesis 39:9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
Joseph recognises he needed to shine the light of sexual purity wherever he gets to, so he chose to shine the light and suffer the consequences than to cover up his light with the bushel of temporary pleasure
2. Daniel
Daniel 1:19 And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. 1:20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm. 1:21 And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.
Daniel never hesitate to shine His light even when he was taken as slave to babylon, His light illuminate the whole of Babylon, for the truth of God was established. He was not afraid, he moved with courage and shined the light through the reign of four Kings.
3. Esther
Esther 8:7 Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews.
Esther was just a little girl taken as slave, thank God for her uncle who showed her the light of God, and this reflected in her when she was found to be a Virgin, yet she continued to shine her light which gave victory and freedom for the Jews in her generation
Are you shining your light in this generation as expected of you?
Have you not covered your light with the works of the flesh?
Our society would have been a better place if every Christian had been shining the light of Christ in us to the world.
Our light should not only shine in the four comers of our churches and homes, it must shine everywhere we gets to, the light must be in us always shining.
Let the light of sexual purity shine through you to the world
Let the light of forgiveness shines
Let the light of God's love and compassion shine through you
Let the light of good justices shine through you
Let the light of truth shine through you
Let the light of peace, joy and kindness shine through you.
Let the light of the character of Christ shine through you.
Believers who live after godly principles are the light that brings hope to a world that is lost in darkness
Let your light so shine, so that the darkness of wickedness and sin can disappear in our society.
God bless you.
Prayer key:
1. Lord, thank you for the blessing of another day in Jesus Christ name.
2. Lord, forgive me for covering light with the bushel or sin and canal desires
3. Lord, help me to shine my light to the world without fear.
4. Thank you Lord for answered prayers in Jesus Christ name. Amen.