In the same way, 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

If you have watched sports for any amount of time you have probably seen a player that simply stands out. Perhaps it’s their skillset that rises above the rest so that when they play you can’t help but notice. Perhaps it is their work ethic, and they always give 100 percent no matter how tired they may be. Or perhaps it’s their attitude, good or bad, that causes you to notice them every time they are on the field. Regardless of what causes them to stand out, they are noticed and people around them are left wondering what allows that attribute to be present. We often wonder how much they practice, how they were raised, or how they can keep going in the face of adversity.

The same is true in our walk with Christ. Jesus died on the cross to forgive us of our sins and bring us into right relationship with God. When we put our trust in Jesus, we are saved and it should change everything about us so that we stand out in a world that doesn’t follow Jesus. Jesus used the analogy of a light to describe how we are to live our life as Christians. He says that we are “the light of the world.” A light shines in the darkness and cannot be hidden. In other words, when it’s dark it’s hard not to notice a light. So, in a world full of darkness, when we live like Christ; when we let our light shine, people can’t help but to notice. If we don’t live that way, we will never stand out because we are living and acting just like everyone else.

Like a soccer player standing out for their talent, attitude, or work ethic, we as followers of Christ are called to stand out because of the way we live our lives. When we love others the way God loves us, people notice. When we live differently than the world around us, people want to know why, and it allows us the perfect opportunity to share the good news of Jesus with those around us. So, as we seek to follow Christ, may we “let our light shine.” May we love others, treat them kindly, and be a helping hand in world that desperately needs it. May we live in such a way that when people look at us, they can’t help but to notice that we stand out and see that the reason we do is because of Jesus.

As always, if you have any questions about your faith, or want to know more about having a relationship with Jesus, I would love to talk with you!

– Coach Nick