“…prove yourself to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life…” (Php 2:15-16).
How do we shine our lights as Christians? Certainly we must make a clear distinction between ourselves and the dark world in which we live. There must be an evident contrast in our character. We must be above reproach and unstained by the perversity going on around us. God calls us to “come out from their midst and be separate” and not to be “bound together with unbelievers” (2 Cor 6:14-18).
This contrast in character is not just about what we abstain from, however, but also the good works we actively pursue. Jesus commands us, “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” (Matt 5:16). We aren’t just called to shine the light of holiness and righteousness, but also of love and service.
This demonstration of godly character must not be a source of self-righteousness, however. The only reason we have attained to this goodness is because God “rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son” (Col 1:13). Our salvation is the “gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works…” (Eph 2:8-10). And as God’s masterpiece, we must strive to give Him all the glory and praise.
So, when we shine the light of godly character, how will the world’s attention be directed towards God? Will this be accomplished by our good works alone? Men may see our love, generosity, kindness, and humility, but these characteristics alone will not turn their focus to the Lord unless we connect the dots for them. We must open our mouths and let them know that God is the source of this transformed character within us.
Shining our lights is not just about good works, it is about good news. We must “hold forth the word of life” (ASV, Php 2:16). We must shine the light of the gospel and tell others what the Lord has done within us. God’s Word is the true source of light in our lives (Ps 119:105) and we cannot effectively shine forth without it. Only when we have told others about God’s grace through Jesus will our good works be a testament to His glory. We have not fully accomplished the work of shining our lights until we have shared the message of the gospel and pointed others toward the saving power of Jesus Christ.