Matt 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
John 8:12 Jesus said, "I am the light of the World."
It has already been commented that we are to be a reflection of Jesus. As the moon reflects the light of the sun, so the Christian is to reflect the light of Christ.
The Pharisees were letting their lights shine so people could be impressed with them. They gave lots of money out of their abundance, wanting the praises of men. They prayed to the Lord as a public act. They wanted to spotlight their righteousness. All their good works were really done in the name of man.
The good works are to give glory to The Source of true godly goodness. It is to give the glory to God, because others see God. Why does the Father receive the glory? It was He that sent His son to die that we might be forgiven of our evil acts, thoughts and personalities, and to be brought from the sense of meaninglessness and despair in life to the realm of being loved by God and loving Him in return.
People need to know that we do what we do for the glory of God!
Oliver Wendell Holmes didn't have flattering comments when he said, "I might have entered the ministry if certain clergymen I knew had not looked and acted so much like undertakers."
We are a witness to others whether we like it or not. What are we conveying to the world? If we convey that we have miserable lives in Jesus then we just do not understand the joy and fullness that Jesus has when He said, "I come that you may have life and have it more abundantly." Is there joy, and light and love shown in us? Is there a concern over sin, injustice and dishonesty? People need to see Jesus and they can only see Him through us.
We are called to have an effect on our world, first by proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ. People need to hear the life changing message. But is it life changing? If nothing changes where is the light?
We are to be like mirrors to reflect the light. To reflect the light we need to position our mirrors to the light. We do this by studying God’s word, by praying and by obeying. As we position ourselves each day to Christ, the light will shine automatically. People will see the glory of God.
We await the day when we shall see His glory no longer veiled with human eyes. John writes, “And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.” Rev 21:10-11
That is the light I desire to witness.
Prayer: As we gaze on Your kingly brightness
So our faces display Your likeness
Ever-changing from glory to glory
Mirrored here, may our lives tell Your story
Shine on me, Jesus.
