Let Your Light So Shine: A Call to Die to Self

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." – Matthew 5:16

This command from Jesus is both beautiful and deeply sobering. It soothes my spirit and gently reminds me of the weight and wonder of what it means to walk in righteousness. It’s not simply a call to do good—it’s a call to be transformed, to be a living example of what happens when God dwells within a person.

Jesus is saying that we should be the example. That the lives we live ought to reflect His light so clearly that others will witness righteousness in action—applied, not just spoken. And maybe, just maybe, they’ll be moved to repentance and apply what they’ve seen to their own lives.

But here’s the hard truth: to let my light shine means death.
Death to the part of me that wants to be right.
Death to the part of me that demands vindication and respect.
Death to fear and my own way.

Laying my life down is the only way this light can shine. And I won’t pretend that it’s easy.

A Heart Cry: Where Is My Portion?

I ask the Lord, Where is my portion? Where is my peace? I speak not from a place of joy to do righteousness—but from a place of deep desire. I know what must be done. I know that self must be laid at the altar of sacrifice.

This is where I become like my Lord.
This is submission.
This is faith.
This is obedience.

The Struggle of Sanctification

The process of sanctification doesn’t always feel uplifting. It grieves the flesh. Sometimes, it even brings a heaviness to the spirit. But the Lord is doing something precious in this process. He’s working in us a treasure of eternal value—something no worldly comfort can compare to.

He is cultivating us for His eternal kingdom.

And isn’t that what we truly want?
Don’t we truly want to be changed?
To win souls for Christ?
To live lives that bear eternal fruit?

If the saints disobey the Lord, who will reflect His nature?
If we neglect the command to shine, how will the next generation see what true godliness looks like?

May We Be the Light

May the Lord help us.
May He give us the grace to be what He’s called us to be.
To be the light of the world.
To die to self.
To live for Him.
To shine in a way that causes others to glorify our Father in Heaven.

Because this is how lives are changed.
This is how the kingdom is advanced.
This is how the world sees Jesus.