25. Sermon on the Mount Secrets - The Power in Deeds Part 1

Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)

This reference contains a few keywords and phrases. We already know that our light shines, whether we want it to or not. The first key word is “let.” We decide, in part, whether people will understand what they see in us and be changed by it. We have been created with a free will. We are God’s hands and feet. He took the responsibility to cause His light to shine through us. It is our responsibility to cause this light to make sense to those who see it.

            Next comes the keyword, “that.” This word indicates our purpose. We are taking a conscious action to let those who see the light understand what they see so that God may be glorified or praised by it. We will always face the temptation to take the glory. Therefore, we are called to witness that in ourselves we are nothing; it’s all about the Lord. This verse mentions good works. People must not only hear about the Lord, but they must feel God.

Many non-Christians and secular organizations do good works. This is called charity. Many people do good works in order to feel good about themselves. They are helping people; therefore, they are good. It might earn them credit with whoever their god is. However, they can help others only temporarily, meeting their immediate needs. Good works in the name of the Lord may result in people being saved and spending an eternity with the God who gets glorified by those works. The point is to do our good works in such a way that people recognize God in them and then bring glory to Him. The all-knowing God sees exactly what people need and how and when they need it. If we listen to the Lord telling us what to do for others and when to do it, then His wisdom will bring the perfect solution. The one in need would stand in awe of the person or group who knew exactly what to do. Then the Christian should point to the Lord as the source of wisdom and refer the glory to Him. This opens a perfect opportunity to share the gospel with the unsaved.

We are all familiar with the saying, “Your actions speak so loudly, I can’t hear what you are saying.” If others can’t reconcile the things we do with the light they see, we bring dishonor instead of glory to the Father. Jesus did not stand in a pulpit in some glorious amphitheater, preaching mighty sermons. He did not do His good works by simply inviting the people forward during a service, delegating His task to the disciples while He just prayed over the crowd. No, he was among the people, meeting their every need.

Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written. (John 21:25)

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. (Matthew 9:35)

           

Jesus was busy from early in the morning until late at night. Then at night, he prayed. Looking at the above two references, we get an idea of Jesus’ style of making His light shine so that His Father may be glorified. To be continued.

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