Dear Christian friends:

In the Bible Jesus often compared a Christian with various natural things or professions. Jesus compared a Christian with a fisherman (Matthew 4: 18-20), a little child (Mark 10:13-16), watchful servants (Luke 12:35-40), a fruit tree (Luke 6:43-45), a branch (John 15:5), sheep (John 10:1-16).

St. Paul compares a Christian with an athlete (1 Corinthians 9:24) and a soldier (Ephesians 6:10-17).

Jesus compares us Christians to these various persons and things to help us understand better who we are and what we should be doing. We Christian often fail to remember who we are and what work we ought to be doing.

In our text Jesus compares us Christians with salt and light. Today I want to preach to you about LIGHT. Jesus says, "You are the light of the world." (verse 14) Then He commands us:

What does Jesus mean? He commands us, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works." (verse 16) Letting our light shine, therefore, means doing good works.

In the world are many bad works: lying, cheating, stealing, killing, pride, selfishness, jealousy, boasting, hating. These bad works we call darkness. We Christians should not be joining in to do the works of darkness. We are become light and should let our light shine. Do good works!

We should love our neighbor and help him in every need. When we love our neighbor and help him in his need we are letting our light shine.

We should show love and kindness to people of other races and cultures: the Mexicans, the Koreans, the Vietnamese refugees, and other strangers. When someone new moves into Pilgrim Towers we should show love and kindness to that person and accept him or her and make that person feel welcome, no matter what race that person is. If we do that we are light like Jesus and we let our light shine.

When we see someone doing wrong against another person we should help that other person and defend him against the wrong-doer. If we are silent and say nothing we are not letting our light shine.

Rev. Martin Niemoller, a German Lutheran pastor who was executed by the Nazis during World War II wrote this before he died:

"In Germany the Nazis first came for
the communists, and I didn't speak
up because I wasn't a communist.

"Then they came for the Jews, and
I didn't speak up because I wasn't
a Jew. Then they came for the
trade unionists, and I didn't speak
up because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Catholics, and
I didn't speak up because I was a
Protestant. Then they came for me,
and by that time, there was no one
left to speak for me."

We say much when we are afraid, and say nothing. Also we say much when we do nothing. By not speaking when we see someone doing wrong, we are saying or showing that we agree with the wrong doer or that we don't care.

Often we are silent and say nothing against the wrong doer because, "we don't want any trouble." That is darkness! We Christians should be ready to accept trouble in order to defend the weak or the helpless and to do the right thing. Jesus did that. We have Jesus' light and we should let our light shine, even if that means trouble for ourselves.

Another way that we let our light shine is by being a good example to our Christian brothers and sisters in our congregation. When you attend church services regularly you are letting your light shine and giving a good example to others. When you come to Bible Class regularly you are letting your light shine. When you attend church meetings: Voters, Ladies Aid, and the Guild Society, you are letting your light shine. “When you accept to be an officer of the church or to serve on a committee you are letting your light shine. When you give generously to support church, missions, and charities you are letting your light shine.

Those four members who have given a Forward Phase gift for the Forward In Remembrance Appeal are letting their light shine. They are a good example to many others.

When we let our light shine we are a good example to others. We influence others to do right and good and we are a help and blessing to others and to ourselves. But there is one more important reason why we Christians should let our light shine. In our text Jesus tells us why:

"Let your light (so) shine before
men, that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father which is
in heaven." (verse 16)

When we let our light shine we give praise and glory to God. When men see our good works they will be impressed by our love our kindness and our generosity. They will think and say, "God has touched their hearts: God has done a wonderful work in those people! They could never do that without God's Spirit!"

We Christians should be very eager to give glory to God, because He first loved us and gave His Son to die for us. "We love Him because He first loved us." (1 John 4:19) God is our dear heavenly Father, and we are His dear children in Christ Jesus. Therefore our greatest desire and pleasure is to give praise and glory to His name.

So, "Let your light shine!"

Amen.