Devotional - 99-08-13 - This Little Light of Mine

Encore from 97-09-05

Mat 5:14-16 (NRSV) You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid.  No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

As Christ pointed out in the above verse, our good works -- while not the means by which we are saved (Eph. 2:8-9) -- do bring glory to our Heavenly Father, as should all we do.

1 Cor 10:31 (NRSV) So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.

However, what we do will not glorify Him unless people know why we are doing them. Otherwise they will give us alone, the credit. I myself have been guilty too often, of doing things in front of unbelievers, i.e. helping someone with something -- but not bringing Christ into it -- so how can people know the reason I do it? We need to be sure that when people see a difference in us -- whether at work, school, in the supermarket or wherever, that they know that the reason we are different, is our relationship with God. There should be a discernible distinction between us and non-believers around us. Patient responses to being cut off in traffic, a lack of participation in gossip, not laughing at dirty jokes, standing with those who are made fun of -- these are just a few examples of ways we can let our lights shine in our everyday world.

Dear Lord, may our lives bring glory to You. Help us to find ways to bring your name into it when people praise our good works, so that YOU get the glory. In Jesus' name, amen.

Jan

jan@cfdevotionals.org
http://www.cfdevotionals.org