Followby Jeff Foerster
“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16) The Christian stands as a representative of the Lord Jesus Christ. Attitude, displayed in actions and words, tells others of the character of Jesus.
“Wow,” you might say, “that sounds like a tall order.” Yes, indeed it is. Or, is it? I’ve read this verse from a fleshly, or earthly, perspective and I find myself moving down a path that leads to being overwhelmed: More work. More responsibility. More to do. I feel the weight of another burden atop my shoulders. Doing “good works” when I feel instead like saying, “Good grief!”
What it Means
Yet, a closer reading breathes life into my heart and yields a sigh of relief. Look with me at the first word in that verse. “Let”. Not “make.” “Let” can be defined as “giving opportunity to” or, “to free from—as if from confinement.” This is not an arduous manufacturing of good works, but a releasing of what already exists that others may benefit, and God may be glorified.
When Jesus told us that his yoke is light, and not heavy, he was not deceiving us. But this command is hard to fulfill, and it is easy to sin. So, how do we make sense of these things that seem to conflict?
If my focus begins and ends with me, I’m sunk. But, if I rightly understand, meditate upon, hold closely in my heart, and act upon the fact that as a believer the Holy Spirit resides within me and is at work in me, I will find peace growing inside me.
How I Know
Our attitude can be described as a basketful of emotions we present to others. We have been given the wonderful gift of emotions by the Lord. These emotions act as both temperature gauge and harbinger. As a temperature gauge our feelings give us a status check, prompting a decision to be made. This takes place when a “temperature” change has occurred. When anger arises within us that temperature has clearly gone up, and it is not without reason. When frustration grips us, likewise, there is a story behind it.
Emotions are a harbinger because, if they are not respected and investigated, they act as a foreshadowing—signaling our future reactions. But, “time heals all wounds” —right? Nope. Time makes one grow older, but does not ensure maturity. Maturity develops with proper use of the gift of emotions.
What To Do
Emotions we experience are an invitation. The Holy Spirit has invited us into greater union. He is the one who knows us most. He is the one who knows us best. From the number of hairs on our head, to our length of days, to our innermost thoughts, He is our teacher and transformer to be shaping us into the image of the Lord Jesus Christ. I know of no other way to heed my emotional temperature, and make good use of it, than to go to God and ask Him to explain it to me. I need time spent with God—time spent listening.
I was going to end right there, and it would be easy to do so, but a quiet time spent with God is not the end, merely the beginning. So, after God reveals to you why you feel the way you do, ask this question of God: “What must I do with what I now know?”
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