When Light Flows, VI

Matt.5:¹⁶ “In 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, emphasis added).

Matt.6:^1-4 “Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”

So, how do we balance these two scriptures? Simple, In Matthew 6, the good works were done for the praises of men. God says do not do that. Instead, do your good works so that God can take the glory. Hence, the motive is crucial here. When the light in my heart flows through the works of my hands, with the motive of praising and glorifying my Father, then my light is shining. But when the light in my heart flows through the works of my hands so that men can praise you, God says, the light is truncated. Your own light will not be truncated in Jesus Name. When the light in my heart finds expression in the works of my hands, then my light is flowing. This season and beyond, the light in your heart must find expression in the works of your hand.

There is light in your heart to be the voice to the voiceless, that light must find expression. There is light in your heart to care for people that are addicts, or people that are homeless, or for people that are in need. That light must find expression in your hands. There is light in your heart to point people to Christ, but that light must find expression in your hands. As children of God, we need to understand that because of our Father, our lives should be flooded with light. We have to deliberately refuse to have any darkness in us. We have to let God flood our hearts and lives with light. It is a misnomer for a child of God to have God and yet what is flowing is darkness. God says, let your light shine which means He is assured that it is light you have.

1 John 1:⁵ “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all.” (NRSV). In your life, in the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, there will be no darkness at all in the Mighty Name of Jesus. So, your light has to be light indeed. What flows out of you should have no darkness at all because God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all. Matt.6:²³ “But if your eye is clouded or evil, then your body will be filled with evil and dark clouds. And the darkness that takes over the body of a child of God who has gone astray—that is the deepest, darkest darkness there is.” (Voice). You need to have light in your heart before it can shine through the works of your hands. You need light in your heart and the only way to get light in your heart is through a God in whom there is no darkness at all. He will flood your life with living light and separate you from darkness no matter how overpowering it seems.

Prayer: Jesus, I flood my heart with Your light, and separate me totally from every form of darkness, in Jesus Name. Amen!