saltandlight

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

If we look around us too much today we will see darkness. If we watch the news, or spend time online, we will hear about bad things happening all around us. It can become very heavy and depressing, if you’re not careful. There is so much evil in this world. I think that is why we as Christians are called to shine the light of God.

If we act just like the rest of the world, how can we draw anyone to Christ? But it can’t just be an act. Our light must come from a real, growing relationship with Jesus. When we walk closely with Him, it naturally shows, and we’ll truly love others and desire for them to know Him too.

So how do we shine our lights? What are some practical ways that we can actually shine our lights in this world that seems to get darker every day? I’m going mention the not so easy face to face things that we may not already be doing. We all make social media posts about how good God is. That’s good too, but we already know how to do that.

Simply mention Him to others in passing. You can do this by saying Thank you Lord or Praise the Lord when someone shares good news with you. (Facebook posts don’t count! LOL) Or just by simply saying God bless you when you meet a stranger.

Praying with someone in public when they mention a need or struggle that they are having. Stop right then and pray with them instead of just saying “I’ll pray for you” makes a much bigger impact. It might be hard to do at first but it is such a blessing for both of you.

Showing others that you care. This may seem commonplace but I think we get so busy and caught up in our own lives that we forget to do this sometimes. Stop and ask others how they are doing and really listen to them. Remember things to follow up and ask about later. Look for small and meaningful ways to serve. Simple acts of kindness goes a long way.

Showing patience with others. Let’s be honest, patience runs thin when we are busy and if we are not careful, we will be snappy and rude to people that don’t deserve it. We should be intentional about pausing before speaking and choosing kindness.

Not being argumentative with others. Sometimes the best way to shine your light is by holding your tongue even when you think you are right. This is something I see on social media a lot. People don’t mind arguing their views online. Be careful not to fall into that trap! As a Christian, you have to walk a line of speaking the truth in love. But don’t be argumentative.

The fruits of the spirit are mentioned in Galatians:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22, 23

That’s what shining your light really looks like—bearing fruit that reflects the Spirit of God.

“This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine,

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine,

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!”

Blessings

~ Cheryl