Pastor column: You are the light of the world

President Woodrow Wilson once told the story of being in a barbershop:

“I was sitting in a barber chair when I became aware that a powerful personality had entered the room. A man had come quietly in upon the same errand as myself to have his hair cut and sat in the chair next to me. Every word the man uttered showed a personal interest in the man who was cutting his hair. And before I got through with what was being done to me I was aware I had attended an evangelistic service, because Mr. D. L. Moody was in that chair. I purposely lingered in the room after he had left and noted the singular affect that his visit had brought upon the barber shop. They talked in undertones. They did not know his name, but they knew something had elevated their thoughts, and I felt that I left that place as I should have left a place of worship.”

What President Wilson and the patrons in the barbershop experienced was D.L. Moody shining his light − his life was reflecting the light of Jesus. And that’s the kind of light God desires us all to be. If you were to be very honest today, would you have to confess that your light wasn’t as bright as it should be? Maybe your heart is like those old kerosene lamps. They would get soot on the inside of the glass and the light just couldn’t shine through like it was supposed to − but when cleaned up on the inside, the light came through bright again.

Jesus said, “You are the light of the world … let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16). This light is amazing and has an awesome affect on and in us.

A light with a twofold purpose

Jesus tells us this light has a two-fold purpose within us. First, it is to witness to the lost. When lost people see the light of Jesus shining through us, they will take notice. Now, we all have works, but Jesus mentioned “good works.” What are good works? Good works are works motivated by love, carried out in the power of the Holy Spirit, and performed for the glory of God. In other words, good works are works produced in us and through us by Jesus Christ Himself (Galatians 2:20).

Secondly, this light is a witness to the Lord. There’s no greater witness than a born-again believer reflecting the light of the Lord Jesus. There’s no more powerful testimony than a life that displays the proof of His presence through the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

Are you letting your light shine? The light of our testimony is about our great God Who loves us! Our purpose is not to make people look at what we do. We want them to see us and say, “They must serve a great God. I’d like to know Him, too."

Rev. J. Patrick Street is the lead pastor of Redeemer Church in Marion, He can be reached at coachpatstreet@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Marion Star: The light of Jesus shines through us