Your life is a reflection. The question is, what are you reflecting?
Read / Listen
Read Matthew 5:14-16
Listen to passage & devotional:
Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 86
Q. We have been delivered
from our misery
by God’s grace alone
through Christ
and not because we
have earned it:
why then must we still do good?
A. To be sure, Christ has redeemed us
by his blood.
But we do good because
Christ by his Spirit is also
renewing us
to be like himself,
so that in all our living
we may show that
we are thankful to God
for all he has done for us,
and so that he may be praised through us.
And we do good
so that we may be assured of
our faith by its fruits,
and so that by our godly living
our neighbors may be won over to Christ.
Summary
In several places in the New Testament Jesus is proclaimed to be the light of the world. This proclamation is now extended from Jesus to his Church. Jesus is the light of the world, but so too are those who follow him.
And as the light of the world, followers of Jesus are not to hide away but share their light. This is the nature of what light is, it is meant to be shared. To hide away light, such as that which radiates from a lamp, is to take away its purpose.
Dig Deeper
If you place a dog in front of a mirror something incredible may happen. Some dogs, upon seeing their own reflection, will believe they are staring at another dog and start barking or growling. Since the other dog is only a reflection, it doesn't back down and this standoff can continue for quite some time.
Despite what it looks like, a reflection is not a dog, its image is only borrowed from the original. In the same way, the light that we share as followers of Jesus is not our own but is borrowed light that comes from Jesus. When we share this light through our good works, it is to be done in such a way that others will give glory to God our Father.
The proclamation to share your light might be considered in contrast with Jesus’ critique of the Pharisees practice of making their good deeds seen by others. The difference between sharing your light and the showmanship of the Pharisees is intent. The purpose of sharing your light through good works is to bring glory to God. The intent of the Pharisees’ display of good deeds was not to honor God but to draw attention to themselves.
Take some time today to consider whether you are letting the love of Christ shine through your actions. Have you chased the satisfaction that comes from others noticing your good works instead of seeking to glorify God through your actions? Have you stopped doing good works altogether? Remember that you are the light of the world and as a follower of Jesus you are to share his light through your good works.
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who is in heaven;
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that your life will reflect the light of Christ in you;
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - 1 Corinthians 6
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