Glorifying God through Our Shining
Just as sunlight pours through an open window, so the life of Jesus shines through us when we live in surrender to Him.
Devotional Credit: eManna – Witness Lee
Photo Credit: Unsplash
In Matthew 5:16, Jesus tells us to let our light shine before others so that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. Witness Lee reminds us that this is not about displaying our human goodness, but about expressing the very life of God within us. As children of God, born of His Spirit, we bear His nature, and the works that flow from His indwelling life carry His character. They are the fruit of His presence, not the product of our self-effort.
When we live out of the life we have received, people see something beyond us. They see God’s compassion, His purity, His patience, and His joy. That is glory; God made visible. Hidden glory is still glory, but when God is expressed in the way we live, speak, and respond, His glory is revealed, and those around us are drawn to Him.
Witness Lee’s words remind us that we, as kingdom people, are both a city on a hill and a lamp on a stand. There is no place for hiding the light of Christ within us. Instead, we live with an openness that allows His life to shine through our everyday actions. We influence the world not through intimidation or force, but through the quiet radiance of Jesus’ life expressed in us.
This shining is not a call to self-promotion, but to surrender. It is about living in such fellowship with Jesus that His life naturally spills over into every conversation, every act of service, and every response to difficulty. When that happens, those around us do not merely see us; they see Him, and they give glory to the Father.
Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture
You are My child, born of My Spirit and sealed as Mine. The life you live now is the life I have placed within you, and it is meant to shine. Let your words be seasoned with grace. Let your actions be rooted in love. As you abide in Me, your light will not dim, for I am the Light that fills you.
You are a city on a hill, set where all can see. You are a lamp in the house, placed to give light to everyone within its reach. Do not hide what I have given you. Let your life display My mercy in the face of conflict, My joy in the midst of trial, and My peace when the world is unsettled.
This is not your work to produce, but My life to express. As you yield to Me moment by moment, My light will reach into the hearts of those around you. They will not simply notice you—they will behold My glory and turn their hearts toward the Father.
Scripture References: Matthew 5:14–16, John 1:12, Galatians 4:6, John 15:5, Philippians 2:13, Colossians 3:3–4, 2 Corinthians 4:6
Real-Life Analogy
Think of a window on a sunny day. The window does not create light, but it can either let the light in or keep it out. A clean, open window allows the sunlight to pour into the room without obstruction. In the same way, your life is like that window. You are not the source of the light, but you can allow the life of Jesus within you to shine unhindered into the spaces and relationships around you.
Today, when you encounter someone in need of encouragement, clarity, or compassion, pause within and say, “Lord, I trust You to let Your light shine through me in this moment.” As you yield to Him, His light will reach them in a way that mere human effort never could.
Prayer of Confidence
Lord, I thank You that I am already light in You. You have made me Your own, filled me with Your life, and placed me where You want me to shine. I rejoice that Your Spirit works in me to will and to do according to Your good pleasure. I trust You to make my life a clear, open window through which Your love, joy, and truth are seen. May all who see that light give glory to You, my Father.