QT10025: Matt 5:16 - The Light that Shines

Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. - Matthew 5: 16 (NASB)

Good day to each and every one again. I just woke up, but I want to start the day with a daily devotion or what I always call quiet time verses. It's nice to start our day talking to the Lord or to meditate so invite you to open your Bible and read our verse for today. You might want to read the previous verses to grasp the very reason Jesus uttered these words for the beatitudes. Beatitudes in Orthodox pertains to patriarchs of the church which in the Bible, you will find it in the previous verses starting with the word "blessed" from verse 3 up to 11. If one of the "blessed" feels like it is for you then you are blessed, and you are one of the beatitudes.

My dearly beloved brethren. Celebrating Christmas 2022

Going back to our verse, the verse is like Jesus is talking to you. Well, if you are one of the beatitudes then Jesus is most likely talking to you. In KJV translation it goes like this:

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven

The verse teaches us beatitudes to serve as the light to others. The word "light" or "phos" in greek means to shine or make manifest. Most of the time phos mean heavenly light which can only mean the light that came from God. 

Light is the opposite of darkness and darkness pertains to confusion or ignorance and chaos. So, when God says we should be light to people in darkness that means for us to be their guide. There is a word that we must not ignore here, and it is with great importance that we do not overlook it. The word "must" in "Your light must shine before men....." is very important. "Must" means it is unavoidable or it is required. Like what I always say before, it is easy to be a Christian but Christianity is not easy specially when people persecute you or abuse your "goodness" to them - sometimes your old self wants to kick in and get even. But as a Christian, we all know that Christ lives in us: 

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. - Galatians 2: 20

Which means we are the mirror of Christianity or your Christian living. What others see in our life reflects not just us but Christianity. Just like when other nations see Filipinos, what do they always say about us? It may be negative or positive, but it reflects what most Filipinos do. So as Christians, we must be careful in what we do.

The reason I am saying this is, the verse teaches us that we must let our light shine to the world to the point they will see your good works which is supposedly the product of being in Christ. So, if they don't see Christ in your life that would be a problem. But if they see Christ in you, your life will be a living testimony to them, and you glorify our Father by this.

So that's it for now. Hope you are all blessed for today. God bless each of our beatitudes. If you have been blessed by this verse, please like and share to others as well. You are also welcomed to make a comment. God bless.