let YOUR light shine

“You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:13-16, NRSV)

You are salt, and if salt has lost it’s flavor what is is good for? Is there any way to make salt salty again? Not that I know of, and Jesus says all you can do is throw it out and trample it under your foot.

You are the light of the world. You don’t light a lamp and hide it under a bushel basket. And actually in Jesus day this would be quite dangerous, as this was an open flame lamp. So to put it under a basket would hopefully put it out, but if it was burning high enough it could catch the basket on fire!

But what caught my attention here this read was a phrase I have said over and over again, because I get to say it every time I get the chance to baptize some one.

“Let your light so shine before others that they see your good works and give glory to our Father in heaven.”

Let YOUR light so shine!

YOUR light! It isn’t any one elses, it is yours!

And by letting this light shine you are allowing your good works to be seen.

Your good works, and your light point to God.

But your light and your works.

So do not be ashamed of who you are. God made you and loves you as you are.

And let that Light shine, that light that is YOURS!

So everyone can see YOUR good works, and give glory to the one who you do them for!