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Shining Lights

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may...glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16

Our Lord regarded His followers as a select company who belonged to a different world from the rest of humanity. Many of the religious people of His day were worldly and unspiritual, publicly parading their religion to impress others while privately dominated by pride, ambition, greed, and falsehood.

Jesus told His disciples they could not make their light shine by sinking to the world's low level. It was only by abiding in Christ and living under the ruling power of His Holy Spirit that they could rise above the world. Only in that way could they be salt and light to a decaying and darkened world.

Our influence on society depends on our likeness to Jesus Christ. We cannot elevate others higher than we ourselves have gone. The first-century Christians out-thought, out-lived, and out-loved their neighbors, and by their example of purity and compassion attracted countless thoursands to the Christian faith.

What do others see in your life that would attract them to Christ?