Mathew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
This passage of scriptures seems to challenge my whole being. My Light to shine so others can see my good works and from my good works glorify my heavenly Father.
OK, what good works have I accomplished today that someone said WOW, God is so amazing and I just want to stand and sing praises unto His name. He is so good because of something you just did that I want to accept Him as my Lord and Savior. He is so good from your good works that I want to serve Him on the mission field. He is so good in your works that I want to go into ministry and make that my life’s calling. Whatever!!!!!
Most of us when someone makes a comment about something nice we have just done will say something so odd it hurts. For instance, you may say? You are so good at telling stories. “Oh, no not really. My friend is so much better.” We can think of many other examples where we put the flame out before the fire begins.
Let’s review the following scripture together.
Ephesians 2:10 NIV “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Ephesians 2:10 Amplified
10For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works, which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].
Ephesians 2:10 KJV
10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Here we are certain that God has good works for us to do, if we follow Him. Most of us would probably say we are doing the good works, I think. But, would most of us say that our own Light is shining through or on our good works that others see them and glorify God. Sometimes we glorify ourselves or maybe God because we are so thrilled with ourselves, but does others glorify God from what we just did?
I have had this on my desktop now for a few weeks and just could not feel comfortable with it enough to post on our site. But, last night as I sat praying for all of you and others it just came to me, WOW, I think I know what God was saying. Well, in part, hopefully, I know. The fruit, the fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness,
Ephesians 5:9 _For the fruit (the effect, the product) of the Spirit [consists] in every form of kindly goodness, uprightness of heart, and trueness of life.
Colossians 1:5 Message_The Message is as true among you today as when you first heard it. It doesn’t diminish or weaken over time. It’s the same all over the world. The Message bears fruit and gets larger and stronger, just as it has in you. From the very first day you heard and recognized the truth of what God is doing, you’ve been hungry for more. It’s as vigorous in you now as when you learned it from our friend and close associate Epaphras. He is one reliable worker for Christ! I could always depend on him. He’s the one who told us how thoroughly love had been worked into your lives by the Spirit.
Maybe you could tell us how your Light (fruit) has worked in your life and others have glorified God recently.
Remember, “A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.”- Unknown
thedailylily.com 
It was my experience and that of my family that when we first came to Christ, our lives were so drastically changed and our life styles and character so greatly improved that people all around us, family and friends, were amazed, astounded and skeptical. That some miraculous happening had occurred in our lives was quite evident. Our joy of salvation and the liberty of our deliverances touched the lives of the people all around us. Our personalities seemed to take on a sweetness and greater compassion. The transformation was evident and the joy, genuine. But the crux of the matter, as Sara’s question has posed, is….”does the light continue to shine? Has the fruit remained?” Does the light of so great a salvation continue and increase so that all my actions, deeds, endeavors, goals, communications, and even body language and facial expressions reflect that incredible wonder of divine transformation that was so greatly evident “in the beginning”? Unfortunately, in many instances, I think NOT! The sin that so easily besets us, that part of the flesh that refuses to remain dead but resurrects at the most inopportune moment; loss of temper; a vengeful remark; a flash of jealousy or outrage; a prideful outburst of our tongues.
Not only should God shine thru the gifts He has given us but the manner in which we execute those gifts should be of utmost concern to us. Do we “show off” when someone compliments us on our gift(s)or do we use false humility to slough it off, or rave on about how we accomplished such & such? I must admit this is a difficult question as to how to respond in a godly way in such situations. To say” It’s God” sounds like lip service OR terribly religious and scary to someone whom you had hoped to be a witness to. So in the long run, we need Holy Spirit’s counsel on how to shine forth in our gifts, so that people will cry out in astonishment at the graciousness and glory of God to His children. And they will want HIM, too.
Sara’s book about “bud, blossom & bloom” reminds us that at the pinnacle of our endeavor is being in a constant state of blooming and flowering so that our fragrance of the knowledge of God can go forth from us and others can acknowledge that God is in us of a truth!!!
I understand for some of you that you feel the question is too hard to answer. Maybe you could share your ideas or understanding of the scripture that would give us some ways to “Let our Light shine?” Maybe some steps? Guidelines?
I understand this to mean living out your life of thanksgiving for our salvation.
A number of times this week and many times a week I feel others glorify God because of my communicating with them and taking time to pray about given situations.