I’m sure we’ve all heard the verse in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glory your Father which is in heaven.”  The light involves our character as a Christian.  Our character is a spiritual makeup of our attitude, behavior, demeanor, facial expressions and so much more.  Some people may not agree, but our way of dressing can lighten or darken us. 

The point to highlight is that people see our outside before they progress to seeing our insides.  Do we confuse them with the way we walk?  Some people say they are Christians, but their use of profanity and polluted conversation say otherwise.  Many people live lifestyles that do not point to the light of Christ. 

When we accept Jesus and receive his precious spirit inside of us, the light of our souls is turned on.  In Christ there is “fullness of joy.”  (Psalm 19)  He has joy, peace, and love beyond what we have ever experienced.  In Psalm 34 David urges us to “taste and see that the Lord is good.”  Shining for Christ comes from a change of heart and mind.  The only Jesus that people may ever see is through us. 

Let’s be nice, even if we don’t feel like it.  Let’s smile, even when we want to frown.  Let’s speak a word of kindness, even when people are mean to us.  Why? 
That’s a decision to SHINE ANYWAY!  We have the victory when we let God arise in us (Psalm 68:1).  I’m making a decision to SHINE ANYWAY! 

Evangelist Tabitha W. Tilley