Let Your Light Shine

PROPHECY:

Thus Says The LORD,

My child, I desire to bless people through you. I want My Holy Spirit to be evident in your life. By living for Me, you will set yourself apart. By accomplishing My will, you will not live for yourself. You are called to live a life that is different from the world. This difference reveals Me as your God.

Do not give in to temptation, submit to Me. Yield to My Holy Spirit. I have anointed you to represent Me to a broken world. People are looking for My love, let them see it through you. People are looking for hope; let them know there is hope.

I change the hearts of people who seek Me. I set people free from bondage. I heal the brokenhearted. I set the captives free. Let those around you know of My love by letting them experience it.

You are called to be different, set apart for My purpose. I desire to reveal Myself through you by My Holy Spirit. By yielding to My Holy Spirit, you will live a life fulfilling the fruit of the Spirit. This lifestyle of yieldedness to My Holy Spirit will show My love as you live out My love.

The light you give to the world is My love. The love I give is unconditional. The world does not know My love. The world cannot give My love, for it does not have love. By letting love rule your hearts, you are allowing your light to shine. You are showing by action, I am your God, and you have My love. You are communicating, you love Me, and follow My ways. My love is the light I desire you to shine forth.

Says The LORD

MESSAGE:

God desires us to live a life that shows our commitment to Him. In Matthew 5:14-16 (NKJV), we read,[14] "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. [15] "Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. [16] "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

To be a follower of Jesus, we should have good works. If we do not have good works, we do not reflect Jesus. James 2:18 (NKJV) [18] But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

True faith in Jesus transforms our conduct and our thoughts. If our life remains unchanged, we do not believe the truth we claim to believe. Works are the outward expression of what we believe.

We are not saved by works. This is not what James is talking about. Works is only presenting to the world that we believe in Jesus. Ephesians 2:5 (NKJV) [5] even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

Jesus expresses that we should live a life different from what the world presents. This is ultimately how we are a light in a dark world.

People in the world are evil, perverted, selfish, condemning, hateful, despisers of good, liars, backstabbers, and the like. Following Jesus means that we will live following Jesus. We are to live a life that reflects the word of God. To do anything other than this means we are following the example of the world.

To say we believe in Jesus, while neglecting to offer mercy and justice, we prove to be religious. In Matthew 23:23 (NLTse) we read, [23] "What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law–justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.

The Pharisees were religious individuals who were full of pride. They looked good on the outside, but neglected the characteristics Jesus wanted to see. These people were not in right standing with God because of their behavior.

Another essential point to consider is how Jesus said in Matthew 12:3, "I desire mercy and not sacrifice". This does not mean sacrifice is bad; rather, mercy is more important than our service in church or any other religious activity.

God cares more about us showing mercy, kindness, compassion, and ultimately love than anything else. This behavior is what proves that we follow Jesus. To slander and gossip about people while saying we are Christians is counterproductive. We are not truly following Jesus by behaving this way.

A religious person puts more emphasis on activities because the activities can appear to make us look righteous. While at the same time, be vicious towards others because they offended them.

To be a light in the world means we put off the religious façade and focus on extending grace and mercy to others. Loving the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength is to live a disciplined life, giving to others the love they do not deserve.

Just saying Jesus is Lord does not make us a Christian. This is only one step towards following Jesus. We must have a changed nature to receive Jesus as Lord in our lives. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) [17] Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

The Word of God teaches us that we used to live as slaves to sin. Through Jesus, we are no longer living the same way. Romans 6:19-22 (NKJV) [19] I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. [20] For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. [21] What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. [22] But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.

God is more concerned with our heart condition than our service to Him. Activities are not wrong, though they can present a false pretense when our hearts are not truly submissive to God.

Every person has a master, either to sin or to righteousness. It is not possible to no longer sin, as we are people who make mistakes. We are to not live as slaves to sin. This means living a lifestyle that condones sin. There is a difference between actively sinning and making a mistake. Actively sinning is purposely rebelling against God and justifying it. For instance, using the Lord's name in vain. Many people do not reverence the name of God and will attend church as if their conduct is acceptable.

Deception will cause a person to believe they can sin and justify it. Taking the grace of God for granted is the means of thinking you can sin and not be judged. Mainly because the church is attended, or a religious activity is conducted. We just have to pray a prayer of repentance, and that is all. At the same time, continually taking the Lord's name in vain.

The word fruit in Romans 6:21 is another word that represents works. Our fruit in life is our deeds. Our words and conduct is our fruit, whether good or bad. We are to live a life producing good fruit. As stated in Luke 6:43-45 (NKJV) [43] "For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. [44] "For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. [45] "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

If we have a good heart, we will have works that are also good. Though if our hearts are evil, our works will reflect that evil. This is how a Christian is known, not by a religious activity, but by their character.

We should desire to live a life that reflects the love of God. A faithful Christian is devoted to God and lives a life that represents the love of God.