Gospel Reflections #467: The Light of Jesus' Heart

Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may behold your praiseworthy deeds and glorify your heavenly Father. That they may see your worthy deeds and glorify your heavenly Father."

It is not our light that shines before people, but God's light.

We cannot do great deeds in our own strength. And even if we could do something that people would recognize as honorable, it would not be a reflection of God. People judge us by our worldly worth, position, honor, dress, possessions, etc., but God's character is hidden from view and cannot be judged immediately.

In this sense, we are not immediately accepted and recognized by the world.

That is why the Bible says we need patience.

By rejoicing and sharing the love we have received from God, we are made to reflect His character.

We can communicate God by rejoicing in what we have received from God, taking time to savor it, and then sharing and empathizing with it, rather than being happy or sad at the immediate reaction or result.

God's light shines in our hearts only when we honestly accept and receive His grace.

God's grace never ceases, and as it grows, our peace and joy grows as well. The time will surely come when the people of the world will realize this.

Therefore, let us not look for ways to be recognized by the world, but let us keep our eyes firmly fixed on God and be surely connected to Him.

God's miracles will happen in our joy!

AUTHOR'S BIO: This Gospel Reflections page is written by Masae San, who resides in Hiroshima, Japan. Masae is a dedicated student of the Bible with a deep passion for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She shares her daily reflections on Gospel perspectives to reach out to others and spread the message of God's true love through a Christ-centered approach. We are sharing her insights here so that you, too, can experience the joy that comes from knowing and understanding the true Gospel and the love of God through Jesus Christ.