They're listening when I get in my car and turn on the radio to find out what music comes out.
They're watching when I get hurt or scared to know what words will come out of my mouth.
They're listening when coworkers are gossiping about our job and each other to see if I'll gossip or complain too.
"They" are the people all around me, and they're paying attention to everything I do.
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16
Shine your light. Clearly, that requires people to shine before, or else there would be no point in having a light. There's no getting away from it - they're all around, and they're all watching.
Light reveals what is hidden in the darkness. What do people see by my light? Do they see my good works? Do the things I say and do point them toward glorifying God? Are my words edifying and my actions encouraging and honest?
We don't always like what the light reveals. What if my words and actions are less than glorifying? Am I heard regularly gossiping, complaining, discouraging, or tearing others down? Do I make disparaging remarks about others or myself? Do my actions reflect a lack of honesty, integrity, or respect?And once the things hidden have been revealed, they can't easily be covered up again. Damage done to a character is rarely fixed without much time and effort. It is easier to establish a poor reputation than a stellar one, and people's positive impressions fall to negative easier than their negative impressions are raised to positive.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine... Another children's song with so much truth. What do people see by my light?
Photos courtesy of Brooke Hamelund.
