...from Friday April 18...
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."
Jesus is telling the people they are to be salt and light to the world. They are to be different and stand out from the rest of the world. Jesus is calling them to be set apart and holy.
What I find interesting here is that we are to let our light shine so that others praise our father in heaven. We are not to do good works and let our light shine for our benefit, but rather for God's benefit. Doing good things isn't for our glory but for our fathers. So often I do good things so people see me-so they recognize and admire me. I am just like the Pharisees who were surely in Jesus' audience somewhere that day! It's great to do good works, but for what purpose? What are my motives? Who gets the glory? Where is the light shining and on whom? I need to be a bright light, but I need to be a bright light pointed at the right thing. A lighthouse does no good if it's pointed down at itself. I need to be a spotlight directed at Jesus.
Dear Lord, help me to be a bright light pointed at you! Amen.
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."
Jesus is telling the people they are to be salt and light to the world. They are to be different and stand out from the rest of the world. Jesus is calling them to be set apart and holy.
What I find interesting here is that we are to let our light shine so that others praise our father in heaven. We are not to do good works and let our light shine for our benefit, but rather for God's benefit. Doing good things isn't for our glory but for our fathers. So often I do good things so people see me-so they recognize and admire me. I am just like the Pharisees who were surely in Jesus' audience somewhere that day! It's great to do good works, but for what purpose? What are my motives? Who gets the glory? Where is the light shining and on whom? I need to be a bright light, but I need to be a bright light pointed at the right thing. A lighthouse does no good if it's pointed down at itself. I need to be a spotlight directed at Jesus.
Dear Lord, help me to be a bright light pointed at you! Amen.
