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Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16
D.L. MOODY
If a man has not grace to keep his temper, he is not fit to work for God. If he cannot live uprightly at home, he is not fit for God’s service; and the less he does the better. But if he can keep his temper, he can live uprightly at home, by the grace of God.
ERWIN LUTZER
Moody was concerned about our testimony before others. Yes, if we are short-tempered, we could drive people away from Christ rather than nudge them toward Him. We are to let our light shine in a dark world. The early church attracted some people because of their love, but their commitment to holiness repelled others. Jesus said that men, by nature, love darkness rather than light (John 3:19).
Some people will make up their minds about Christ based on their interaction with us. Christians must guard their testimony. Light gives us perspective. As a child on a farm, I would frequently run out in the fields after dark. I would often take a flashlight because I’d imagine things that weren’t there. Darkness can be terrifying, misleading, and dangerous.
Our world needs light. Today’s culture calls darkness light and light darkness. We have the privilege and responsibility of showing others that there is a light they can confidently follow—a light leading us to the reality of forgiveness and hope. Suicide is on the rise because of hopeless despair. Sadly, at the same time, many Christians are hiding their light, fearful of being canceled, ridiculed, or otherwise thought to be odd.
Let’s honestly answer these questions: Are we good representatives of Christ’s light in the lives of those who walk in darkness? What sin is keeping us from letting our light shine? Are we fearful, hesitant, and unprepared? Or, as Moody would say, “of a bad temper?”
PRAYER
Father, may I represent Christ without shame and without rancor. Let my temperament and attitude be pleasing in your sight.REFLECTION QUESTIONS
In what specific areas of your daily interactions does your fleshly reaction most threaten to dim your Christian testimony?How do we strike the faithful balance of being genuinely loving without diluting the truth that convicts?