“Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:16).
The view out my window early this morning revealed the drab colors of winter woods: brown tree trunks with powdery white snow at their feet, motionless weeds, waiting for sunrise. Immediately I noticed a color contrast. A single shaft of light slanting into the woods had softened the color of one sapling—now a light tan. Beside it, the sun had transformed a streak of snow into light gold. The colors of the woods were changing with the rising sun.
In both nature and art, sunlight often determines color. Artists use degrees of shading to show the brightness of sunlight contrasting with shadows. They are trained to first identify the direction of the light source.
Opening our eyes to the world God created for us reminds us of Scriptural truths.
When we show kindness and Christ’s love to others, our lives contrast with those around us. People can tell our light comes from another place. They can see God shining His bright love through our actions and words as we give credit to our light Source.
The Apostle Paul tells us that refraining from complaining and arguing in a “depraved generation” causes us to stand out and “shine like stars in the universe” as we hold out the word of life (Philippians 2:14).
Lord, help me to be open to Your light, so that it shines on others around me.