Year of the Bible: Part Nine of TwelveSample

Shine Within

Christianity is both a glorious relationship with God through Jesus Christ and a representation of God’s love and character. Jesus asked His followers to let their faith shine like a light among people so that others would notice the reflection of God in them. However, before our faith can shine for others, it must first shine within.

When Jesus spoke the words in this passage, He was alluding to the inner struggle and temptations that challenge our faith. These distractions can potentially hinder the flow of blessings from God. Therefore, we need a stable inner faith so blessings can flow to us and then overflow onto others. Doing all this is easier than it seems; if we submit to the Lord and pursue Him, blessings will fall into place.

Jesus promised to return with eternal salvation for those who have faith in Him. He’ll be here before we know it! There’s no time to pretend to be holy in front of others or even to convince ourselves. We can’t afford to worry about our faith and what people think of how we fast, dress, or spend money. Additionally, we shouldn’t feel obligated to share our faith just to fulfill some ultimatum. If we do, it can stress our experience and taint Christianity overall. To have the faith Jesus offers is a simple choice we lovingly make because He is worthy. If we make that choice, our priorities shift. The Lord becomes our primary focus, and our faith begins to shine within and without.

Question: If you have faith in Jesus, what steps can you take to make your faith shine within?

Prayer: Praise God for doing all the hard work of giving us faith so that all we have to do is believe. Also, ask the Lord to reveal how your priorities may have to shift.