“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”    Matthew 5:16

Consider the little word let in this verse. When you get right with God, when you get saved and filled with the Holy Spirit of God, you don’t have to make yourself shine; you will shine. Just let yourself shine. If you try to force it, it will be a glare and not a glow. Letting yourself shine is your willingness to cooperate with God.

The Bible tells of Stephen being stoned for his testimony (Acts 6:8–8:2). And the Bible says that while they were stoning him, he looked up into Heaven and his face shone like the face of an angel. I don’t think Stephen had been to a seminar on face shining or worked in any other way to make this so. He was so full of Jesus that Jesus shined out of him.

We are called to say: “Here I am Lord Jesus.” Christ in you will not be contained if you are filled with Him. He will change your actions and the way you see the world as you shine for Him.  How would we say that Jesus is evident in our lives right now? Who is somebody you would say is full of Jesus? How has Jesus’ light shone through that person to you and others?

Encourage someone who has lived as a light of Christ for you, and ask that person for insight on how God has led him or her to live this way.