Mathew 5:16, Let your light shine.

"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."Mathew 5:16 (NIV)

Anyone whose ever watched sports has seen this. A team wins the championship, the star player and coach are pulled aside by reports and asked,

"How do you feel?" The answer often comes as,

"First I'd like to thank you God, my family, my team! I'm so excited to be here! It was a tough game but..."

You can fill in the rest. Simple enough words, repeated for many years that we expect them now. When did attributing our fame, success, and achievements to Christ become empty and just something we say?

I am certain some of these star athelets mean it, and it's tough to keep your eyes on what matters with that level of fame and popularity. Yet, how guilty of it are we? In our day to day activities how often do we do good deeds with intention of pointing others to Christ? I know plenty of times I have forgot this important calling. We may not maliciously, or pridefully do good deeds with intent to build ourselves up. Instead I wonder how often I simply fail to shine my light, or go the extra mile for someone like Jesus would. How many times am I presented the opportunity to do something mighty and powerful and I opt for less becasue the other thing would be too hard, I don't have the time, it's just not who I am. If man had stopped at flight and never tried to go to space our would would be vastly different today and we would lack much of the tech and innovations we have in our world now.

Christ wants to reach the lost and he wants us to be the vessel for this. Our life goal ought to be share Christ and his love with others that we all might be saved and bring glory to God together forever. Everyday I'm sure there are coutless ways to share Christ, to show Christ in us through our actions. I constatly am praying asking for this opportunties to be revealed to me that I don't pass them by. I would encourage all to pray asking for that insight an wisdom to see the chances we have to shine our light that others may see our good deeds and praise our Father in heaven.

My simple prayer each day is, "Lord, use me today to share your live. Let your light shine within me. Let me see how I might share your love around me." In my own busy life I am sure I still ignore and miss the chances or moments at times, but I am learning and growing with each day. I would encourage anyone else in the same place to pause, take a moment, and pray as well asking the Lord to grant you and show you the opportunities to shine for him.

Shine your light and continue to be that beacon in the dark.