“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.”
What does it look like for us to “let our light shine before others”? First, let’s clarify who’s light we are talking about. This light is the light of the Lord that He put in His children. In other words, we do not produce the light within us, God does. This light can be expressed by words. But sometimes, actions speak much louder than words. If all we do is act right, people may think this “good act” is attributed to our goodness or our upbringing. It is very important that we give God the glory.
Ways To Let Your Light Shine
One of the ways that we can let our light shine is to show compassion to others. The Hebrew and Greek words translated “compassion” in the Bible mean “to have mercy, to feel sympathy and to have pity.” Jesus was our example of expressing deep compassion for all people (Matthew 9:36; 15:32). As Christians, we should follow His example by showing compassion and kindness to those we encounter.
In January 2023 I took an online career assessment. The areas of focus in their diagram were Talent, Purpose and Mission. Talent being what you do best. Purpose, the type of work you enjoy doing. And Mission the results that matter deeply to you. In the talent category my #1 talent is compassion. That truly blessed me. I saw that as me following in the footsteps of Jesus.
I have had volunteers and staff members tell me the same thing. That I am compassionate about others and that I care about their wellbeing. This is not to pat me on the back at all. It is about our main scripture, Matthew 5:16. I give all the glory to God that others see His light shining in me. Think about examples in your life where you too have let your light shine before others.
Another way to let our light shine is to practice humility (Philippians 2:1–11). Humility means freedom from pride and arrogance; humbleness of mind; act of submission. The Greek word translated “humility” in Colossians 3:12 and other places literally means “lowliness of mind,” so we see that humility is a heart attitude, not merely an outward demeanor. Some may put on an outward show of humility yet still have a heart full of pride and arrogance.
There are many ways that we can let our light shine before others. Generosity is another means of letting our light shine before others (Hebrews 13:16). Forgiveness, too, is a means of letting our light shine before others (Ephesians 4:32). Perhaps the best way to let our light shine is to share the gospel, the “good news,” with others. The good news is that God redeems sinners through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ (John 3:16; Romans 5:8).
Let Your Light Shine!
The ultimate purpose of letting our light shine before others is not to draw attention to ourselves or to promote our own interests; rather, it is about living in such a way that others will glorify our Father in heaven. Of course, this is not an easy task. It can be difficult to maintain a spirit of compassion, humility, generosity, and forgiveness in a world that is often characterized by hatred, anger, and division. We may even be met with resistance and opposition. But we are not alone. We have the Holy Spirit within us, and He empowers and guides us to reflect the glory of God. So I encourage you, “In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see”….
