Where Are the Good Works?

As we get closer to daylight savings time and the nights are beginning to get longer, there’s more darkness. And with the election getting closer, we are seeing bad behavior glorified…there’s more darkness. And in the voices on both sides of the increasing racial divide in our country, we are seeing anger, intolerance and prejudice…in the hearts of many people, we are seeing more darkness. I read the best post this week, about all the hate that is boiling over in our country these days — find it here.

We’re surrounded by a growing darkness, but there is peace because Jesus is the light of the world. Here are some scriptural reminders:

• “Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’” (John 8:12, ESV).
• “In [Jesus] was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it (John 1:4-5, ESV)
• “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5, ESV).
• “I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them” (Isaiah 42:16, ESV).

We Are Meant to Show Forth Good Works

Because we are made in God’s image, and because He has placed His Holy Spirit within believers, we are called “children of the light, children of the day” (1 Thes 5:5, ESV).  Jesus compared His people to a city on a hill, a light in the darkness.

The World is opposed to Christ and it looks for reasons to oppose His followers too. But, if we shine His light before others, and they see our good works, even unbelievers may give glory to God (Matt 5:16).

Remember Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? The account from Daniel 3 is my favorite Bible story! The three Jews were thrown into the fiery furnace for refusing to bow down to a golden idol. Scriptures explain the Lord protected them from the flames, the heat, and even the smoke. Not only that, but they were joined by a fourth man in the fire whose face looked “like a son of the gods” (Daniel 3:25, ESV). Because of their uncompromising — their good works — a pagan king named Nebuchadnezzar, witnessed a miracle. His heart was changed toward these men and their God, and he issued the following decree:

Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.

Daniel 3:29, ESV

So We SHINE

Like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, we are meant to bring glory to God, to bring honor to His Name. We are meant to shine.

• “Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world…” (Phil 2:14-16, ESV).
• “…at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” (Eph 5:8, ESV).
• “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9, ESV).

If you think you’ve lost your sparkle, just look at Jesus. He shines enough for both of you.

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