◄ What Does Matthew 5:16 Mean? ►

"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.

Matthew 5:16(NASB)

Verse of the Day

When God redeemed us through the precious blood of Jesus Christ, our eternal future was assured forever. And as we live as strangers in an alien world where Satan has become the god of this world for a season, we are blessed indeed, for it is God who works in us, both to will and to do to His good pleasure.

In other words, the good works that we do in spirit and truth are not our own good works, for of ourselves we can do nothing that is worthy of God's praise. The good work that we do is the new-life of Christ within us that is working through us. It is the new, born again life of Christ that we received when we were born from above that carries out any good works that we do so that others may see our good works and glorify our Father Who is in heaven. Indeed, we have this light in earthen vessels to demonstrate that the good works that we do are from God, and not from us.

Christ is the true Light that came into the world: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it."

He is the light and life of God and when we trusted Him as Saviour, He filled our human spirit with His Own pure light, and God desires that all His children will grow into spiritual maturity. "Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, 'I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.'"

Let us seek to grow through humble obedience to His Word so that our life may grow in grace and in a knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us walk in the Spirit, maturing in Christ, so we may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God, according to His power that is at work within us. Let us remember these words that Matthew wrote, and as the days get darker, let us shine the light of Jesus into a world that desperately needs His life-giving, Light of Life.

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 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."

My Prayer

Father, I pray that the light of Christ in my heart may shine brightly before men, in such a way that they may see the good works that I do in Your power and strength, and glorify You, my Lord and my God. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.