SHINE THROUGH

SHINE THROUGH

READ:  Matthew 5:13-16

Let your light shine before 

others.  Matthew 5:16

A little girl wondered what a saint might be.  One day her  mother took her to a great cathedral to see the gorgeous stained-glass windows with scenes from the Bible.  When she saw the beauty of it all she cried out loud, “Now I know what saints are.  They are people who let the light sine through!”

Some of us might think that saints are people of the past who lived perfect lives and did Jesus-like miracles.  But when a translation of Scripture uses the word saint, it is actually referring to anyone who belongs to God through faith in Christ.  In other words, saints are people like us who have the high calling of serving God while reflecting our relationship with Him wherever we are and in whatever we do.  That is why the apostle Paul prayed that the eyes and understanding of his readers would be opened to think of themselves as the treasured inheritance of Christ and saints of God (Ephesians 1:18).

So what then do we see in the mirror?  No halos or stained glass.  But if we are fulfilling our calling, we will look like people who, maybe even without realizing it, are letting the rich colors of the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control of God shine through.      KEILA OCHOA

Lord, You are the light of the world.  Thank You for wanting to shine that light in our lives.  Cleanse me today so that I may let Your light shine through.

Saints are people through whom God’s light shines.

INSIGHT

In John’s gospel we see that Jesus often refers to Himself as “light.”  In John 8:12 and 9:5 He calls Himself “the light of the world.”  He also uses this light language to talk about the kingdom of God He came to establish.  In John 3:19 Jesus tells Nicodemus, “This is the verdict:  Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.”  When Jesus tells believers that they are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14), He is in a sense issuing and invitation to Christlikeness.  As followers of Jesus we have been given the opportunity to shine the light of His love into the dark and dying world.

Have a blessed night.

God Our Creator’s Love Always.

Unity & Peace