1997-09-05 - This Little Light of Mine ...
I hope many of you remember that song. It is simple, but it is poignant. I keep running into the passage about not hiding our lamps under a lampstand, so I figure God is trying to tell me something.
Mat 5:14-16 (NRSV) "You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 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. 16 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, 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, the things we do will not glorify Him unless people know why we are doing them. Otherwise they will give us 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 -- and they should see one! -- whether it's at work, school, in the supermarket or wherever, that they know that the reason we are different, is our relationship with God.
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.