Shine
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
My husband’s family has a great friend named Rusty. Rusty is such a great example of Christ’s love and kindness, even if he would never admit it. Recently, I heard this story about Rusty.
One day he was in an important business meeting. They got into a discussion about what books different people use to help advise them on their business decisions. Everyone asked Rusty what he thought helped him make his best business decisions and, after he thought for a while, he answered that he honestly used the Bible to make his best business decisions.
After the meeting was over, one of other men came up to Rusty and told him that until that moment he never knew that Rusty was a Christian. Rusty’s mind was blown - how could someone not know he was a Christian?!? Rusty still tells that story and says that after that moment he made it his personal goal to never walk away from meeting someone without their knowing his love for Christ.
When I was a camper, we had a Greystone Groove dance to the Newsboys song “Shine.” I think that it’s starting to come back, so some of you might know it. I love the chorus- it says:
Shine. Make ‘em wonder what you got. Make ‘em wish that they were not On the outside looking bored. Shine Let it shine before all men. Let ‘em see good works and then Let ‘em glorify the Lord.
You don’t have to constantly preach the gospel to show people that there is something different and special about you.
When Sadie Robertson from Duck Dynasty was on Dancing with the Stars this past fall, the judges couldn’t stop talking about what a “bright light” she was and how much she shined. Julianne Hough said, “There is a light that you have that just shines so much. People take that light. … It’s just so infectious.”
When people see you shining, they wonder what is so special and different about you, and that opens up the opportunity for you to talk about why you shine so much. It gives you the chance to share God’s love just because people want to know what they need to do to be more like you.
There are lots of ways to shine God’s light to others. The easiest way is to think about the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. All of those character traits shine God’s light!
How can you fit more of those character traits into your life and interactions with others? What can you do to shine God’s love to everyone around you? Ask God today to help you shine before others to bring glory to Him! And then go, shine, and make ‘em wonder what you got!