Matthew 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

The Sermon on the Mount is one of Jesus’ most famous teachings, but familiarity can often breed contempt. Even the most familiar parts of God’s truth are worthy of meditation. This particular verse is balanced by Jesus saying that the Pharisees public “acts of piety” were worthless, which comes up in the very next chapter. (Matthew 6:5) The “good deeds” Jesus is talking about here aren’t things to make us look good, they are things that do good to others. We aren’t to be trumpeting what we have done, but we aren’t to be shy about being God’s agents of blessing. The thing to focus on here is that our Father in heaven gets the praise. When someone says, “Thank God you did that for me,” we’ve done it right! Some people are so shy of attention that they won’t do anything, but that’s depriving God of the praise and glory He deserves. We need to operate on the principle that if God can use us, He can use anybody, and since He really can use anybody, we’d better be available!

I’ve experienced many times the joy of being God’s agent of blessing, and I’m hooked! I feel like God has blessed me incredibly, and I love to share that around. To this point, finances have had very little to do with that. Helpful, timely words cost me nothing, yet they can bless deeply. Kindness and acceptance go a long way in opening people’s hearts to their Creator who loves them. Sometimes, simply being there is the best thing I can do. Whatever the avenue, I am to seek to be available as a channel of God’s blessings, so that people will indeed know that God is real, and open their hearts to Him.

Father, this is one of the shortest things I’ve written in a long time, but it’s a pretty simple principle. Help me not inflate what You are doing, but rather transmit it in simplicity and purity, for the blessing of others and for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!