Let it shine, Let it Shine, Let it shine

“This little light of mine! I’m going to let it shine!  Let it shine!  Let it shine! Let it shine!”

We are all familiar with this song from our early days of Sunday school or children’s church.  It’s a simple song that boasts great things.  Even as adults we struggle sometimes when trying to figure out just how to successfully accomplish it. It’s important.  Jesus tells us to do it in Matthew 5:16:

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

We definitely want to bring the Father glory.  But, how do we do that today in a darkened world where we are bombarded by every kind of evil both imagined and unimagined?

We do it by living our lives victoriously out loud before others as kingdom citizens.  As we discussed before, we respond to the trials of life from a kingdom mindset not a worldly emotional one.  We find solutions to our problems in the truths of God’s word, in the form of promises and we hold fast to them.  We shine our lights by living out loud the kingdom principles we have learned.  For example, loving one another as explained in 1 Corinthians 13:1-13.  Displaying this love through acts of kindness, forgiveness, humility, and mercy…treating others the way we ourselves want to be treated…not only to likeminded Christians but also to our enemies (Matt.5:43).

So, wherever we find ourselves this week, let’s be mindful that we are shining lights, “a city set on a hill” (Matt. 5:14).  And also, that it’s not only important that we shine brightly, but also that we ‘so shine’ in such a way that the Father be glorified.

Be blessed!