Today’s Scripture:Â Matthew 5:15-16
15No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. (NRSV)
Artwork by Ava Hare
“Do all things without murmuring and arguing, so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world.”
~ Philippians 2:14-15
One of my all-time favorite prayers is:
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord make his face shine upon you
May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace
Now and forever more.
What a beautiful visual image that is. Can you imagine the Lord’s face shining upon you? I think it must be pure love, warmth, safety, and peace. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” His light, his spirit can show us the way. We are charged with following Jesus and sharing his light.
My Mother and Father were my very first examples of God’s light. They were my first examples of God’s love and nurtured my faith. There have been so many more examples of that light in my Christian walk at River Road: the smiling faces that faithfully greeted me at the door, the teachers that showed up every Sunday to tell me the stories of Jesus, the youth leaders who guided me in faith and fellowship, the pastors that presented thoughtful sermons each week, the teachers of the preschool children who were my friends and showed such joy in their work. The list goes on. There is more Light at River Road Church than you can imagine.
The trials we go thought often make it hard for us to let the light of Jesus shine through us to others. But when we trust in the Lord in those times too, our good deeds glorify our Father in heaven even more. Let us pray that along the way, others will look into our faces and see God’s face shining on them.