Let Your Light So Shine: Commandments Keepers

Let Your Light So Shine

(Matthew 5:14-16) "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

Let your light so shine, let your holy life, your willingness to give, your pure conversation, and your faithful instructions, be everywhere seen and known. Always, in all areas and at all times in your life, at work, at school, at home and abroad, in poverty or prosperity and in times of peace or adversity, let it be seen that you are disciples of our Lord Jesus.

Why should we want others to see our good works? The proper motive that influences us is not simply that we may be seen but it should be that our heavenly Father may be glorified. The Pharisees acted to be seen of men. The chosen of our Lord Jesus, act to glorify God, and care little what people may think of them.

God Almighty created us for this purpose. (Ephesians 2:10) "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Even if we are poor, and unlearned, and unknown yet we may do good works. If anyone asks of us for any good thing we are to give it to them.

Christ's followers are to follow our Lord Jesus example. So who did Jesus give to? Was it not to all that asked of Him? And who asked? Was it not the most wretched among the populace that asked of Him? Who can ask of any basic necessity of anyone except the humble? And Christ Jesus, the Son of God, did not judge any that asked of Him. (John 12:47) "And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world."

Our heavenly Father is a merciful and loving God and we, as His children, are to emulate His characteristics. (Matthew 5:45-48) "That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."

Do the servants of our Lord Jesus have the loving heart needed to do the will our Heavenly Father?

When the hungry and thirsty, homeless and cold, widows and the fatherless, feeble and sick, imprisoned and hopeless, call upon their Heavenly Father with tear-filled eyes, which one of His servants will our Lord Jesus send to help them?

(John 13:34) "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another."