May 22, 2007
Let Your Light So Shine by Lydia Rule, RTF Staff Writer
Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good
works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
The family van swung around the corner and stopped across from an old, beat down house. In front of the house surrounded by a high metal fence, a group of teens and adults stood in a circle, smoking and talking quietly. My mom honked the horn and a little boy ran out of the house towards our van. I opened the car door and let him in, making sure his seatbelt was securely snapped in. The excitement in his eyes told me that he was glad to be on his way to church.
Suddenly, one of the teens looked our way and shouted across the street, “Tell God hi for me!”
The tone in his voice wasn’t mocking. He was serious. He really wanted us relay the message to God. It was as if a blinking neon sign had been placed on the top of our van that said, “Christian! Christian! Christian!”
It felt strange to think that my family and I represented God’s light to these people and to 
the little boy we were picking up. I felt inadequate, awed by the responsibility to “so let your light so shine before men”.
All Christians are lights in this world. And even to people that you don’t know, you are the only glimpse of Christ that they may see. How can I, an imperfect person, represent Christ’s perfect love? The very thought of the all-mighty God choosing me to be His ambassador is frightening. The only word that describes this situation perfectly is YIKES!
The fact is, God does choose you and me to be His representatives. The privilege is priceless, but at the same time, it is such a load to carry, especially when you’ve just fought with your family the whole way to church, you’ve been angry with someone, or you’ve been spending more time chatting online than you have spent chatting with God.
Fortunately, God offers us a special strength. Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” When we try to represent God in our own strength, our light will flicker uncertainly. When we let Christ shine through us, our light will not fail, but it will be a steady glow.
