It's my pleasure to welcome you all to "Victorious Daily Devotion" in the Omnipotent And everloving name of Jesus Christ. ๐๐น๐
Topic: Don't Shine So Others Can See You; Shine So That Through You Others Can See Christ. - C.S. Lewis.
Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father in your heaven. Mt. 5:16.
When we preach, when we sing, when we pray, when we work, when we speak, what all we do, it must clearly manifest the love and light of Christ.
If we see the early church apostles, all their preachings and sermons, light of Christ was clearly manifested. And never they spoke to shine so that others would see them. But they shone through their speeches and lives, people could see the light and love of Christ. All the apostles were in one accord and shared purely gospel of Christ and never spoke against anyone, but exhibited the light of Christ. And thus guided 1000s and 1000s to be added to church every day.
Rapid and tremendous revival and growth in the church. They too like Christ healed the lame, raised the dead. But they never spoke of their achievements nor repeated what great miracles they did. No doubt revival was at its best those days and birth of Church took place.
Word of God says, love your enemies. Forget loving enemies, in the present days, we see clearly even love among families is missing. love towards each other in the churches is missing. Everyone trying to pull others and pull servants of God. Spending time to outwit each other, forgetting that we are ALL accountable before His presence one day.
We hear few people sharing purely the Word of God like those apostles to equip, to encourage, to energise, to revive, to restore and to bring resurgence of the church for His glory.
Revival has come to standstill these days. Because It's all self praise, self achievements what they did. That too very old achievements. Because nothing new happening in the lives. Rest of the time it's used to flatter people who are useful to them in order to gain something. There is no time to allow God's Word and for God to be glorified. And therefore revival is missing.
"What we did is not that important but what we are doing is more important. How you were is not that important; but how we are now is most important."
Let us not shine so that others can see us like the prayer of a Pharisee. But let us sincerely shine like the mosy blessed apostles of the early church recorded in the book of Acts like Simon Peter, Stephen, Philip, Apostle Paul, Barnabas, Silas, John Mark, Timothy, Aquila and Priscilla, Lydia, Justin and several others who shone with their lives and being instrumental in shining where people could see the light of Christ, His love, His power and blessings through them.
Have a joyful day and blessed New week!๐๐น๐
Benedict James