Matthew 5:16 – In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (NIV)

Quite recently, my wife Evelyn and I had our front yard re-landscaped. The bushes were overgrown, and the whole yard needed a major makeover. I'm not much of a gardener, so we hired two people to do the work. They laboured for two days. On the first day, they dug out the old bushes and trimmed the trees. On the second day, they planted some new bushes and flowers, and mulched the whole area. We were both very pleased with the results.

We also purchased some small, white fencing to "prettify" the whole garden, which looked terrific during the day. At night-time, however, something was missing. We bought solar-powered globular lights and placed them in the mulched area. They were perfect! Their additional lighting has brightened the whole garden and added to our delight.

I personally love the additional fact that the solar lights don't need to be switched on, or have their bulbs replaced. They build up their energy during the day from the sun's rays, and at dusk, they turn on by themselves, giving the garden some extra charm. It makes the whole place look attractive and is very pleasing to the eye.

As Christian people, we are supposed to reflect the love of Christ through our daily deeds so that others may be attracted to God. If we build up our faith resources through daily contact with the Son using prayer and Scripture reading, then we will have the potential to make good choices and become better witnesses for Jesus. At times, the world around us can be a dark and frightening place, but with Christ's light shining from His people, the world can be transformed into a place of healing and help, light and love.

Questions for personal reflection:

How do I recharge my faith in Christ each day? How do I display His light through my daily deeds?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the light of the world, and we are called to reflect Your brilliance through our deeds and choices, faith and lives. Help us to seek better and more consistent ways to re-energize our spirits and deepen our connection to You. Grant us opportunities to be compassionate and loving disciples of Your words and ways. In Your holy name, we pray. Amen.

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About the author:

John Stuart <traqair@aol.com>
Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
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