January 31, 2024 -- Matthew 5:14-15 -- Shine for Jesus!

People loved by the Father, in the power of the Holy Spirit: Sh’ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 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 5:14-16 ESV

One of my friends complained: “Every time I truly give myself 100% over to God and try to serve Jesus, it seems the Devil doubles down and makes things miserable for me”. Can you relate? I sure can. The trouble for me in my life is how often I am content with 90% obedience, perhaps slightly more, often far less. So the lack of surrender of that last 10% of my life to God means I am holding on to things I want. I am holding onto things which by twisting justifications I think don’t matter to God…though I clearly know they do matter. I just want what I want.

When a life is illuminated by Jesus Christ, then all the areas of sin and strongholds of the enemy are clearly seen. The Spirit then works in you to purge what is sinful, eliminate what is holding you back and enable you to tear down the strongholds of the Devil and sin. If I am truly honest, it is not even that the Devil has to be added into the equation. My own sinful heart is often so wicked and warped that I am always inclined to follow my own sin rather than the light of Christ.

This is precisely why a Christian who conscientiously and consistently obeys Jesus, confessing his sin and fighting against the old temptations and lusts and habits of his nature is so striking to the people around him. His peers are always looking for a chink in his armor and imperfections in his walk so that they don’t have to worry about their own compromises, sins, and the party-house the Devil has set up in their lives. However, a man or a woman who consistently shines the light of Jesus Christ is truly an inspiration to the people around him. Even the acknowledgement of one’s sin and the willingness to turn from it and confess his sins to God is something the world doesn’t understand.

You life shines before all men because you talk to Jesus. Your life is a blinding brilliance when you go to church, when you take time out of your day to talk to God. In fact each time you turn away from your own willful desires and follow Jesus the people around you take note. It is so unusual in our world. The Father is glorified by your joy in Him. The people who hope, secretly wanting there to be something bigger, some grand purpose in life, will see what you are doing and give glory to God the Father as they follow you in your submission to Jesus. A life lived full on for Jesus will face resistance from many around him, but will also cause others to go to him and say, "what you got, I want it!"

O God my Father, thank You that in Jesus I have recognized the poverty of my own life and spirit and by confessing this find fullness of life in Christ. Thank You that mourning over sin has given me greater comfort in Jesus Christ than I ever could have imagined. Thank You, Father in heaven, for the righteousness that is mine in Christ sealed to me by Your Spirit, so that I have a pure heart and a deep desire to remain pure for Jesus. Thank You, Glorious Father that the purity of Jesus and the His Light shining out from me means I will see You, Triune God, now by faith and soon through-out eternity! Amen.

https://youtu.be/m8y3IKarEVY?si=hOQ4f-n9otoL9m6S “Shine” Newsboys

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