Let It Shine

The page shown above has two separate component illustrations.  The first, is illustrated in the upper right corner, and is what I'll be talking about today.  I'll discuss the 2nd part tomorrow.

Today's piece is taken from Matthew 5:16 - "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven". (NAS)  When contemplating this verse, I was drawn to compare it to Matthew 6:1 "Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them. . . "  Actually the first 8 verses of Matthew 6 repeat this theme in different ways.  At first glance, this seems contradictory.  Let your light shine, versus, don't let your right hand know what your left is doing.  How can both be true?  Closer reading suggests the focus is NOT on WHAT you are doing, but rather on WHY you are doing it.  What is your motive?  

In trying to better understand these concepts, I pondered Jesus's example.  As we read about His life, we see so many examples where He did not condemn people, but LOVED them.  And He spent hours in prayer - but at night while others were sleeping.  And yet, there were times where He was quite public and I found myself a bit confused.  While I am VERY grateful for Jesus' example, I still find myself wondering a bit about how to live both sides of this coin.  

Then I was reminded of my grandmother.  She truly lived these words.  She WAS a light that shone very brightly, but she didn't flout her good works or her "righteousness" and she didn't preach to people.  Instead she simply lived a quiet life of loving people where they were and doing what she could to brighten their lives.  You knew that she had contact with her Heavenly Father and sought His will in her life - not because she told you about all the good things she did or all her conversations with Him - but because of the LOVE she LIVED every day.  

I miss my grandmother very much, but am very grateful for her example.  I think that using her as a starting place enables me to get a better feel for the truths Jesus was discussing here.  And I'm sure that as I continue to study, I will one day more fully understand Jesus' life in this context as well.

As I look back at my picture, and the words "Let It Shine", I realize another way to put it would be "Let HIM shine" (through me).  

Father, I am so grateful for the way you bring things to mind to help me understand what you would have me see each day!  Thank you for your love and the way you work through human beings to help us better understand your love.  Thank you for the loving example my grandmother was to me.  And thank you for the incredible examples of Jesus love.  Father, please work in me to better learn how to let my light shine in such a way that YOU are glorified.  May I seek YOUR will and YOUR glory rather than my own.  Certainly we have no greater example of someone seeking YOUR will and YOUR glory than that of Jesus and I am SO grateful for the willingness and love He showed in coming to this earth and living and dying as He did. Thank you for the knowledge, based on what He taught and showed us, that YOU also love us very much.  Father, I am so grateful to be your adopted daughter!  Thank you for all you are doing in my life.  I love you, Father!