Day 84 · Week 12
Passage: Matthew 5:16; 1 Peter 2:9–12
Memory Verse: Matthew 5:16
Matthew 5:16 (KJV)
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
There is a surprising ending to Jesus' teaching about light.
People see the disciples' good works, but the disciples are not supposed to receive the glory.
They glorify the Father in heaven.
This protects Christian service from becoming self-promotion.
It is possible to do something good and then become very concerned that everyone knows we did it. Later in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus will warn specifically against doing religious acts “to be seen of men.”
So how can Jesus tell us to let people see our good works while also warning us not to perform them for attention?
The difference is the purpose.
We do not hide the good Christ calls us to do, but neither do we make ourselves the point of it. We serve because we love God and people. If someone notices, we have an opportunity to direct attention toward the goodness of God.
Peter says believers should show forth the praises of the One who called them “out of darkness into his marvellous light.”
That is the goal of Christian witness: not “Look how good I am,” but “Look how good God is.”
How can we tell whether we are doing something good to help others or mainly because we want people to notice us?
Say this week's complete memory verse together:
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” — Matthew 5:16
Then let each person name one good thing about God that they would like other people to discover.
Ask God to let your family's life shine clearly while keeping your motives humble, so that whatever good others see ultimately brings glory to Him.