"let your light shine" FOR 2023

Theme for 2023:

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 5:16, ESV

Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good deeds and moral excellence, and [recognize and honor and] glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 5:16, AMP

This verse is not the most known, but I can’t image it not being a very familiar one to many Christians who regularly read the Bible. All Scripture is inspired (II Timothy 3:16) but certainly this verse from the Sermon on the Mount is so needed today. It’s really easy to be discouraged with the woke agenda, the cancel culture, redefining marriage, the LBGQT+ agendas and still the abortion battle. It’s all the more reason we need to take this verse to heart and put it into practice. Light shines the brightest in the darkest places. It can at times seem overwhelming, but even one small candle can impact the darkness. 

"All the darkness in the world cannot put out a single candle." (copied)

One writer said it this way. “By referencing His people as lights in the world, the Lord said that instead of hiding our testimony of Christ, lowering our light, and hiding away, we are to shine in dark times and push out the darkness. The light that comes from believers was not their light. God is not expecting us to present ourselves as the answer to man's problems; our light is reflected light, i.e., the Light of the World is Jesus (John 9:5).” 

In these days, He is asking us to use our gifts, our talents, our words, and our hearts to illuminate hope to the hopeless, and faith to the faithless. There’s only one way you can shine your light to direct the eyes of those around you toward God. 

“For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,

which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).

God has a set of good works designed specifically for you to accomplish today, tomorrow, and the next. Even the smallest action on our part can have an eternal impact on others.

• You offer hope when there is none. 
• You provide encouragement when it is needed most.
• You love despite being surrounded by hate.
• You do a kind deed expecting nothing in return. 
• You show compassion in a world that’s too busy to see a person who’s hurting.
• You model patience when you’re met with impatience.
• You take time to pick up another, dust them off, and walk with them.
• You turn a handout into a hand up.
• You encourage others in despair so they can regain their light and glow.
• You offer Jesus. 
• Your words, thoughts, prayers, and actions are the mega lights of your soul.

Also keep in mind that the main goal is not for people to recognize the work we do. Those will be secondary. The main goal is to point people to the goodness and glory of God. God has given all of us a purpose at this time in history so that you can make Him known. 

“You are like that illuminating light. Let your light shine everywhere you go, that you may illumine creation, so men and women everywhere may see your good actions, may see creation at its fullest, may see your devotion to Me, and may turn and praise your Father in heaven because of it.” (Matthew 5:16, Voice)

Let it shine,

Pastor Kevin