Make 'Em Wonder What You Got
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
The most Instagram likes I have ever gotten on a picture is 146. The most favorites I have ever gotten on a tweet is 13. (I wish I could remember my Myspace password to tell you all about my top eight, because those were my true glory days). But here is what matters about those numbers: I remember them, and I shouldn’t.
Social media has a way of taking over our lives in a way that we forget what the purpose of it all is – do we do it for the likes, retweets, favorites, shares, reblogs? Or is it all for the same purpose that the rest of our non-internet life focuses on: our Heavenly Father?
C.S. Lewis once said, “Don’t shine so others can see you, shine so that through you others can see Him.” These 16 words sum up Matthew 5:16 beautifully: “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” That is exactly how you should use your social media accounts for goodness.
Rather than post something you think is going to get the most likes (#guilty), post something that is going to SHINE God’s light for your followers to see. Don’t you love the use of the word ‘shine?’ It takes me back to the Greystone Groove song – “Shine, make ‘em wonder what you got; make them wish that they were not on the outside looking bored.”
Y’all, Christianity is fun and awesome! We know that, so why not take this opportunity that we’ve been given, quite literally at our fingertips, to show it! How cool would it be if one of your followers was inspired by your post to check out YoungLife or join a bible study. No one wants to be “on the outside looking bored.” Now, more than ever before, Christians have so many ways and means to glorify God and spread His word. So do it sincerely; do it joyfully, and SHINE ON my sisters.
As you go on, here is one last note to remember: Be the light. Put it on a Post-It in your locker, write it on your hand, or even make a t-shirt with it written across your chest (just kidding… kind of).
In every single microscopic thing you do – be the light to our Father in heaven. Because if you are, there is a reason to celebrate, my friends!
Daniel 12:3 says, “Those who turn many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever.” You and me, let’s shine and be the light. Deal? I’ll close with lyrics from Greystone’s very own Dave Latham: “Stir up the gifts of God that you gave me, I want to let Your light shine through… Shine like a star.”