Daily Scripture
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:16
devotion
How can we live loud for Jesus and shine His light in a world that so openly rejects it? So many people who go to church and say they are Christians never show the love of Jesus in their everyday life. If we go on living the same without change, then people see no need for God.
When I think of pursing a holy life and living loud in my community, I like looking back in Acts 2:42: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.” We see in this verse that living loud for Christ requires devotion. We must be devoted to studying God’s Word, devoted to fellowshipping with our community of believers, devoted to breaking bread with others (being others focused), and devoted to a life of prayer.
When we fill ourselves with God’s word and hide it in our heart, it gives us the power and wisdom to resist sin (Psalm 119:11). Resisting sin in a world full of sin does not go unnoticed. Of course, none of us are perfect. But when we realize the weight of sin, we also realize how it hurts our testimony with others.
We must be devoted to fellowship. I don’t know about you, but I’m not sure what I would do without my church family. We need each other. Pursing righteousness brings everyone together under one name: Jesus.
Living a life of Christ means we need to be people who are about people. We aren’t about money, possessions, or popularity. We are about doing whatever it takes to get people to the feet of Jesus.
When we have a life devoted to prayer, we see things happen that are only explained by God. Prayer should be our first thought in every circumstance. It means we are to be people totally reliant on God. He is worthy of our faith and trust.
When we shine our light for Christ, others are blessed and life change happens.
Elise Wiliams