As I wake up this morning, the day when daylight savings ends and realize that darkness will be present more. It reinforces the need to let your light shine! Even with the extra hour from daylight saving time, it’s mostly just an extra hour of sleep for most of us. I’ve often thought about how it affects people who have to work an extra hour, and how billing systems handle the variations, like the 25-hour and 23-hour days during the year.
Do you realize that to let your light shine, you need to get good at reflecting it?
Consider how the moon shines by reflecting the light of the Sun.
Just like the moon doesn’t produce light and yet lights up the night sky, we need to reflect light that lights up the lives and world around us.
The moon doesn’t shine light, but reflects the sunlight that hits its surface. The moon’s surface is covered with fine dust that is highly reflective. The brightness of the moon depends on its phase, which is determined by its position relative to the sun and the Earth. When the moon is full, it reflects the most sunlight to Earth. When the moon is new, it is between the sun and the Earth, and the side facing us is dark. Sometimes, we can see a faint glow on the dark side of the moon, which is caused by earthshine, or sunlight that bounces off the Earth and then off the moon. The moon’s color is mostly dark gray, like volcanic rocks on Earth, but it appears bright because of the contrast with the dark sky. The moon has a low albedo, which means it only reflects a small fraction of the sunlight that reaches it.
the science behind the moon shining – source: chat.bing.com
Consider how we can do the same thing reflecting the light of the Son.
The comparison between the moon’s reflection of sunlight and how we reflect the light of Jesus is a beautiful analogy. Just as the moon reflects the sun’s light, we are called to reflect the light of the Son, Jesus Christ, illuminating the darkness around us.
The moon itself has no light; it shines brightly in the night sky only because it reflects the light from the sun. Similarly, we lack inherent light within ourselves but have a calling to reflect the light of Christ, who is the true Light. When we follow Jesus, His light shines in and through us, guiding us and giving us the ability to bring light to others.
In practical terms, reflecting the light of Jesus means living out our faith through our actions, words, and choices. It involves embodying the love, grace, and truth of Jesus in our daily lives, so that we can shine His light and draw others to Him. It’s about staying connected to Jesus, the source of our light, and ensuring that nothing comes between us and Him, so that His light can shine without hindrance.
As followers of Christ, our role is not to generate our own light but to be vessels that reflect His light to the world. This reflection brings hope, direction, and joy to those who are searching for meaning in the darkness. By living in a way that honors God and serves others, we participate in the divine work of bringing light to the world, just as the moon participates in the night’s illumination by reflecting the sun’s rays. 🌕✨🙏
for us to shine, we need to reflect the light of Jesus into the world around us – source: chat.bing.com
Let your light shine for others to see:
God’s Word is clear about our need to shine and not hide His light shone on us from others.
- 1 Peter 2:9: Peter wrote, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
- Philippians 2:15: Paul also wrote, “So that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky.”
- Isaiah 60:1: The prophet Isaiah said, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.”
- 2 Corinthians 4:6: Paul wrote, “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
- Matthew 5:14-16: Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Let your light shine but raising it up and providing light for others to be able to see!
As dads, we have a special role and responsibility to let our light shine before our families and others. Let’s consider ways to do this as dads that will meet the needs of our wives, kids, and world while glorifying God.
Here are three ways we can do that:
Lead by example.
As dads, we are the head of our households and the role models for our children. Let your light shine by living out our faith in our daily decisions, actions, and words. We can show our love for God and our family by praying, reading the Bible, serving, and worshiping together. We can also demonstrate integrity, honesty, humility, and generosity in our work, finances, and relationships. By leading by example, we can inspire our children and others to follow Christ and grow in their faith.
Love unconditionally.
As dads, we have a calling to love our children and spouses as Christ loved us. We can let our light shine by showing unconditional love, grace, and forgiveness to our family members, especially when they make mistakes or disappoint us. We can also express our love through our words, actions, and gestures, such as giving hugs, compliments, encouragement, and support. By loving unconditionally, we can reflect God’s love and compassion to our family and others.
Learn and grow.
As dads, we are not perfect and we have room for improvement. Let your light shine by being humble and willing to learn and grow in our faith and character. Firstly, we can seek God’s guidance and wisdom through prayer and His word. Secondly, we can also seek feedback and advice from our spouses, children, and other godly men. Thirdly, we can admit our faults and apologize when we are wrong. Finally, we can also embrace challenges and opportunities to grow and mature as dads and as Christians. By learning and growing, we can show God’s grace and power at work in our lives.
how to let your light shine as a dad response from chat.bing.com
Today’s Verse of the Day:
You are the light of [Christ to] the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden
Matthew 5:14 AMP
Therefore, let’s be the dads who invest so much time with Jesus that we tune and polish ourselves to reflect His light into the world. Additionally, let’s be the dads who maintain a constant connection with Jesus, day and night, allowing His light to shine in and through us at all times, like a city set on a hill that cannot hide. Finally, let’s be the dads who choose to let our lights shine for the glory of God rather than trying to hide it under a bowl or a bushel and keep others from the benefits of His light which will help others to see and be able to walk out their purpose in this world.
So how can we apply today’s verse of the day and be all that our wives, kids, and world need us to be? What can we do to put it into action in a way that will bring God the praise, the honor, and the glroy?
Applications of Matthew 5:14 to let your light shine in this dark world in order to become the dads our wives and kids need us to be and God created, planned, and purposed for us to be:
- Be a Godly Role Model: Lead by example in your faith and values, showing your family what it means to live a Christ-centered life.
- Foster a Loving Home: Create an atmosphere of love and forgiveness within your family, mirroring the unconditional love of Christ.
- Family Devotions: Prioritize family prayer, Bible reading, and worship, setting a routine that allows your family to grow spiritually together.
- Open Communication: Encourage open dialogue with your children, addressing their questions and concerns about faith and life.
- Serve Others: Engage in acts of service as a family, demonstrating Christ’s love through your actions.
- Admit Your Imperfections: Humble yourself by acknowledging your mistakes and apologizing when necessary, teaching your children about God’s grace and forgiveness.
- Continuous Learning: Invest in your spiritual growth by studying the Bible, seeking guidance, and remaining teachable.
- Prayerful Decision Making: Involve God in your family decisions, seeking His guidance and wisdom.
- Share Your Faith: Be willing to share your faith with others, both within your family and in your community, leading by example as a bold witness for Christ.
- Community Involvement: Engage in your church and local community, showing your children the importance of being a light in the world.
By applying these principles, you can truly let your light shine and be the fathers your wives, kids, and God need you to be. This not only strengthens your family but also has a positive impact on the world around you.
