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Join a Discipleship GroupMatthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify
your Father in heaven.
Light is one of the miracles of creation and we often forget how important it is. It is a primary tool for perceiving the world and communicating within it. From the sun, it warms the earth, determines weather patterns and initiates the life-sustaining process of photosynthesis producing our food and even the oxygen we breathe.
Almost all of the information about the rest of the universe reaches us by light and astronomers measure even the chemical composition of stars through it.
In this passage, Jesus uses light as a metaphor, a natural way to teach us how to live the life of a believer, someone committed to following Him. He declares here that we are to be a light to the world around us, our world.
Do you think of yourself as a light?
You and I are surrounded by the darkness that comes from people who always look inward to see how they feel and act out of their wants. They are also oppressed by a spiritual enemy that wants to blind them to the truth of who God is.
A light illuminates, reveals, shows the way, removes darkness, and provides comfort. The Bible tells us that as we live out the truth we hear from God’s Word, and proclaim that to everyone we meet, whether we do it by our words, or through our actions, then we are lights to our world.
“Good deeds” are those that demonstrate loving kindness, especially to those that don’t deserve it, and point others to the God we serve. He gets the glory when we give ourselves away in His name.
In the verse before, Jesus describes that light as shining in a home….your home. The first ones to be impacted by your light should be your family.
You consider yourself a follower of Jesus?
Serve them with sacrificial love that causes them to sense that you are different. Answer their anger with a gentle spirit. Listen to them so you can really understand why they act out instead of always telling them what to do.
Share with them what you read from the Bible and act in such a way that they see you living out what you believe, that you are genuine.
Your light shining in your home may be effective at repairing relationships, bring peace to conflict, demonstrating how to live with purpose, and even helping your family members receive God’s gift of eternal life.
You are called to be a light today. Start by shining in your home or wherever you are so that you will reflect God’s light in you.