Let Your Light Shine

By Ricci Fayard

“Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”  Matthew‬ ‭5:16‬

Signs tell us what’s inside a business; When you see a Popeyes chicken sign, you know there is fried chicken inside that building. When you see a McDonald’s sign, you know they serve hamburgers inside.

Wouldn’t it be nice if people wore signs to tell us what’s inside of them? Jesus gave us a sign to wear so the world will know we belong to Him. That sign is His light that shines through us. We show that sign through the way we live and the good deeds that we do for others. Jesus tells us not to hide our light from the rest of the world, but to let it shine for all to see! But He also warns us;

“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men.” (Matthew 6:2).

Some people want to be seen as holy, so they attract attention to get praise from men, instead of God. Jesus saw through the self-righteous acts of the religious leaders. Good deeds should not be self-centered, but God-centered. They should not be done to make us look good, but to make God look good.

Jesus did good deeds both in public and in private. There is a place for good deeds in public, but to do them ONLY where others will notice may indicate that your real audience is not God. Doing good acts in public is not wrong if your motive is to glorify God. So when you are shining your light for the world to see, ask yourself, “Would I still do this if no one would ever know I did it?” What does your sign say?

“SELF-CENTERED”

Or

“GOD-CENTERED”

Father, we are privileged to shine the light of Jesus to this world. May you be glorified in the good deeds that we do in this world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.