February 17, 2008

Devotion By Pastor Jack Duplechain

Shining Lights
 

Jesus tells us in Matthew's gospel that we are to let our light so shine before men, and He also gives the result  of letting our light shine.  Matthew 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven."  We will never know the result unless we put into action what this verse is really saying.  The word "let" gives the idea that we have the power through the Word and of the LORD to allow this to take place.  Can you imagine the Holy God using us? but that is exactly the idea being set forth in this verse.  (1.) The ability is ours.  Paul writes in Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." We would never assert that any work we are commanded to do is apart from our ability to perform it through Christ our Lord.  (2.) The place of our light shining is before men.  Oh, that we can do this is worth our every effort.  We are lights according to Paul.  Philippians 2:15 "That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world."  Can we get this today as children of God?  (3.) The ultimate goal of our light work: to glorify the LORD.  Often, we as children of God lose sight of what we are here for ~ to bring honor to the LORD, not ourselves.  We live in a world that is filled with self-centered self-gratifying, self, self, self.  It should not be our ultimate goal as a Christian to please ourselves.  Our example is the LORD himself.  Romans 15:3 "For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me."  May we start today with this prayer: Lord of the earth, give us the strength today to let our lights shine.  May we salt your earth, and may all that we do glorify you is our prayer in Jesus' dear name, amen and amen.

 Pastor Jack Duplechain