MATTHEW 5:16.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

TO PONDER

We began the week with a Reading from the opening chapter of John's gospel in which John refers to Jesus as 'the Word made Flesh" about whom he goes on to say, "In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind."

Now in Matthew's gospel in Jesus first major address to the crowds who had begun to follow him, Jesus says, "You are the light of the world... Let your light shine before others"

This is also another reason that Christmas is every day. If that first Christmas was the Light coming into the world, then since his arrival, he has placed that light in all who would follow and believe in him and now that light shines in us... or at least it should.

We all know there are days, and times when we do obscure that light and we don't look much like the 'light of the world' That's why we have to keep the miracle of Christmas in our hearts every day of the year. We cannot shine the light ourselves because we are not 'the Son'. Just like the 'Sun' is what gives physical light to the world, so too is Jesus the only source of spiritual light and life. the best we can do is be like the moon and reflect the light of the Son/Sun, the best we can, but it happens every day.

Just like the waxing and waning of the moon, there are times when we reflect more of Jesus than we do at other times, but the wonderful thing about it is that every day, the Sun/Son rises and the ways in which we might have failed to really show Jesus to others are brought into that light of Christ and we are made new and sent out to bear his light all over again. It's just another one of those ways that the world God has created also tells us the story of God's interaction with us every day.

So Keep you eyes open as you go about your day, and the rest of 2026 - You will see God at work in surprising ways if you don't pack Christmas away in a box and instead, you pay attention to all the ways he is showing his love, care, and presence with us every moment of every day!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I ask you today to help me to see. Please help me to see the ways you are at work in the world and the people around me and how you are calling me to be a part of that ongoing work. Please help me to actively seek and engage with the opportunities you have for me to be a part of your work in the world. Amen

Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle