A Shining Example

I like Jesus’ style of teaching.  We’ve been looking at Jesus famous teaching, “The Sermon on the Mount” where He names the priorities simply and clearly, warns us against the dangers we may encounter, and then encourages us to look at His good plan for us in it all. 

If you ever wanted to have hope that your life has meaning and purpose, then listen to Jesus’ words today. 

You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 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 good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. Matthew 5:14-16

We are not just insignificant no-bodies running around without purpose from the day we are born until the day we die. God has gifted each of us to do good and He wants to live in us today with power and love to accomplish those good things.

Here’s the encouraging bit – we are not just hanging around watching God do some things and hoping that we can get in on the good stuff.  No, it is God’s plan that You and I do good things that many others recognize and good and in the middle of it all, recognize that it really is God who is at work in it all doing for us and through us what we could not do for ourselves.

How cool is that.  Jesus emphasizes in his example of light shining for all to see and then specifically in His explanation of what He’s trying to tell us that WE ARE THE AGENTS OF GOOD DEEDS.

Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

No second class insignificant people from God’s point of view – shining examples of God’s goodness. 

And so Loving God, our Heavenly Father, we want to be people today who shine with joy and goodness and helpfulness.  We don’t want to hide away in self-centered distracted lives, living primarily for what we see on our screens and devices, but we want to be those who do so much good that others happily celebrate that goodness and give you thanks and praise.

Help us to believe that is Your plan for us today and help us to listen for and follow Your direction so we carry out all You have in mind that is so wonderful.  Amen

We can’t even imagine all the good things that God wants to do through us today, how many smiles He wants us to bring to the faces of others, how many gifts of comfort and encouragement others will receive with joy because they encountered us.  Let’s have a great day being part of God’s wonderful plan.