Shine Brightly

Matthew 5:14–16 NKJV

14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

I want to talk to you about how your good works bless others and bring glory to God.

I have to admit that when I see those YouTube videos where someone finds a a person who is possibly homeless or in need and then they go and bless that person I get touched. They will often get that person clothes, food, maybe a makeover and you can instantly see the change in the recipient. Their body language changes. Their mood changes. They seem so surprised by the kindness and blessed by the act. And it is just awesome.

Have you ever been blessed by the good that someone has done? I’m sure you know that as Christians, we are called to good works.

Good works are the fruits of salvation (Galatians 5:22-23). They are the result of being connected to Jesus and experiencing the life of the Spirit within (John 15:1-8). We are saved by the grace of God and a healthy faith results in good works (James 2:26).

How different would the world be if we did the works of faith that brings good to others and glory to God? What about our community, school, or workplace?

We as followers of Christ are the light of the world but what changes if that light doesn’t shine?

When we do good works, like our Savior, we will bless others, deliver them from the oppression of the enemy, and bring glory to God (Acts 10:38). Doing good works energizes our faith and increases our joy.

Normal Christian Life

One of the challenges that we often experience when it comes to doing the works of faith is feeling unequipped. In fact, many believers hide their gifts and miss opportunities to do good because they just know that someone, more spiritual will do them. The leave these things to the “super-Christian” because they don’t think they can make a difference like Mother Theresa or Billy Graham.

But God has called each of us to good works. He has not selected just a few people to demonstrate His goodness and glory to the world through.

It’s easy to hide our light under the basket. To stay out of “trouble” with the world. To keep ourselves from the cultural crossfire or from being canceled on our job.

Instead we need to come out from under the basket and shine brightly in the world. We need to step into our calling and purpose and the good works that God has appointed for us.

This is a normal part of the Christian life and something that each of us is brought into through our relationship with Jesus. As we become more like Christ, as a part of following Him as His disciples, we will do the works that Jesus did.

Shining Brightly

Jesus often spoke to His disciples in parables to teach of the ways of the kingdom and how we can live according to His purpose.

We are going to look at one of these stories so that we can discover some practical steps for letting our light shine brightly.

Luke 8:16–18 NKJV

16 “No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light. 17 For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. 18 Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”

From this parable, here are three observations that will help us do good works.

Choose to Be Good

John 1:1–5 NKJV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

As we consider Jesus’ parable, let us keep this in mind. Jesus is God. When He came He brought life. This life was called the light of men and this light shines in the darkness.

Luke 8:16 NKJV

“No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light.

Jesus called us the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). That light is good and it’s purpose is to bring life and good wherever it goes.

To be the light of the world, we have to choose to be good. This is a function of our nature as Christ followers.

This means that we choose to be like Christ. It means that we do not hide our nature. We don’t hold back the light in us nor do we neglect it. In Christ, we have become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Illustration: The moon shines brilliantly in the night sky. But it is only reflecting the light of the sun. It can not help doing so because of its relationship to the sun.

In the same way, we reflect God’s light because of our relationship to Jesus.

Our works are to be a reflection of Jesus. Let us remember that we are lights. Everyone who comes into our presence sees the good light of Christ. So we need to choose to be lights and that means choosing to be good.

Choose to Do Good

Luke 8:17 M:BCL

We’re not keeping secrets; we’re telling them. We’re not hiding things; we’re bringing everything out into the open.

Light reveals things. It keeps things from being hidden and it exposes things that are in the dark. In other words, it is operative.

We are created in Christ Jesus for good works (Ephesians 2:10). This means that we are to take what Jesus gave to us and use it for His glory (Matthew 10:8).

The first thing we need to do is recognize that in Christ we are lights, which means that we are good. The clear, next step, is to resist the temptation to retreat and hide our light.

You have been given gifts by God through the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:4-11). He has given to each of us talents according to our ability (cf. Matthew 25:15). So that through each of these things we are able to do good.

Illustration: Have you heard about the guy who retired to Montana to raise cattle? He was talking to a friend one day and the friend asked him what he named his ranch. The man answered, “The Triple-Z, Double Decker, Lazy Day, Lucky Diamond Ranch” The friend then asked how the ranching was going. The man answered, we started with a bunch of cows…unfortunately none of them survived the branding!

It’s not enough to talk about good works. We actually need to do them.

James 2:14–17 NKJV

14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Choose to do good works. Don’t resist the impulse to do good. Let’s not just talk the talk but instead let us choose to walk the walk for the glory of God.

Choose to use our gifts (or lose them).

Luke 8:18 NKJV

Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”

This concluding statement from Jesus to the parable is interesting. It serves as a warning. He reminds us that if we don’t use what God has givens us we can lose it.

Illustration: Faith, like a muscle, can atrophy.

But if we do choose to use our gifts and do good then we will receive more from Him.

1 Timothy 6:17–19 NKJV

17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. 18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Choose to use your gifts and store up for yourself a good foundation in the time to come. Look for opportunities to do good so that you can build upon your heavenly reward.

Conclusion

God redeems broken men and women in the midst of this fallen and broken world. He doesn’t save us and instantly teleport us to heaven. He saves us and leads us and changes us and leaves us so that we can bring His goodness back in to the world (cf. Genesis 1:31).

If you are a Christ follower, He has redeemed you. You are no longer a slave to sin, but now you are righteous in the Holy One. But you have to choose to be good. This is fundamental. We do what we do because of who we are.

And as we embrace the truth of who we are in Christ we need to choose to do good. There is a temptation and a resistance to not get involved or to let the super-Christian do the works but you were created for good things, to bring His goodness into the world that so desperately needs it.

Finally, we need to choose to use our gifts. To not do so leads to loss but using them leads to great reward.

As we get started and move forward in these things we will do good and bless people.

And because we choose to do good and bless others we will make a difference in the world for the glory of God. Because He is worthy.