Being An Influence For God’s Glory

In summary of Matthew 5:14-16 it says, “Your are the world’s light - it is impossible to hide a town built on top of a hill.  No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket.  Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your your light shine before others that they may see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, novel and good deeds.  Then they can recognize, honor, praise and glorify our Father who is in heaven.”

Bottom line:
You’re here to be light, bringing out God’s goodness in the world.  A light is not something you hide.  Instead it is put in a high spot so that it can provide light to every.  So let your light shine before others.  Then they can recognize and praise the Father who is in heaven.

What this means to me:
I’m here in this life to be a vehicle for God to use.  I’m am to show others the difference it makes to have God working in one’s life.  God is not a secret to be kept.  I’m to go public with this (as public as a city on top of a hill.)  I should not hide under a bucket, instead I should give light to others.  I’m to be generous with my life, serving others and showing what the grace of God has done for me.  By opening up to others, It will prompt people to also open up to God who is our generous Father.  By myself, I cannot make myself the light of the world.  It is only because of my relationship with him, that I become that light, that reflection of him in me, a real life.  He calls each of us to follow him, and he tells us that “whoever follows me will have the light of life and will never walk in darkness.  My focus therefore must always be on the light; humbly trusting Jesus to reveal the light through me.  My influence and visibility is a result of who is living within me, and not because of what I do.  God is the one who will put me in a place of influence and visibility.  I’m just a steward, so I must get out of the way (my way) and let Jesus work through me.  Today I ask God to humble me and help me consider how he has placed me in a place of influence for his glory alone.  I ask for wisdom and discernment as I follow the example of Jesus and his direction for my life.