Shine Your Light

Thursday, January 1st, 2026

8:35 am

Good morning! Happy New Year! Today I am in Matthew 5:13-16. Right after Jesus gives the Beatitudes to His disciples He tells them that they are the salt of the earth. That salt is no good if it has lost its flavor, it would be thrown out and trampled as worthless. Then He tells them they are the light of the world, like a city on a hill that cannot be hidden. Saying that no one lights a lamp and hides it, instead they put it on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, they are to let their good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise their heavenly Father.

Jesus tells us that we are the salt and light of the world. As a follower of Jesus Christ, we are to shine our light for Him. Not conforming to the world around us, but being the people God created us to be. As we draw closer to Him, the more He changes us, our lives, our hearts, everything about us. So much so that people should start seeing Jesus in us. We should be reflecting Jesus' light to the world around us. So much so that everyone around us can see the change, and wants to know what has happened to us. In this way we are being the light God created us to be. He tells us to let our good deeds shine, and point people to Him. We will not get to heaven because of our good deeds, we get to heaven because of our belief in Jesus Christ, but our good deeds should be evidence of the one we follow. We don't do good deeds for our personal benefit, but because God tells us to do His work here on earth. Jesus Christ came to earth to help us, to save us, and He wants us to help those around us. Sharing our love of God to others, and helping them understand who God is and who Jesus is. Pointing them to God, not ourselves. It is not about us, it is all about God. That is how we are the salt of the earth. We are not suppose to be like the world around us but different. So different that people want to know why we are different.

Are you being the salt and light of the world? If you don't think you are, ask God to help you see how you can be that for Him and the world around you. You are needed by the people around you. They need you reflecting God's love to them. God can show you how. Make God a priority in this new year, and allow Him to use you to help others. God has big plans for you. Allow Him space in your life, you will not regret it.