Your Reflection

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

How well do you reflect Jesus?

Does your face reflect His love?

Do your actions replicate His compassion?

Do your words reflect His leadership, wisdom, and grace?

This morning as I looked out my large back window, I noticed something.

Overlooking a large space, I can see for over a mile.

On the horizon was a brilliant burst of sunlight.

Blinding almost.

It was twinkling, extending its rays like when you look at the sun.

But it was tiny as it was far away.

My first thought was, “Oh, the sun is peeking up.”

But immediately I dismissed that thought because the sun rises on the other side of my house!

Then I realized what I was looking at.

A reflection.

A brilliant reflection of the sun.

The sun was hitting this spot just perfectly, lighting it up as if it were the sun.

Which made me wonder about us.

How brilliantly do we reflect Jesus?

When we are selfish, we don’t shine.

When we surround ourselves with misery, we don’t shine.

Walking with self-pity, we certainly don’t shine either.

And when we cling to fear, rejection, and despair, we are pretty dull as well.

Purpose again to praise God especially when walking life’s troubled road.

Trust God when you cannot see the road or even when you can.

Let your light shine so others may see Jesus.

Reflect Him so well, others cannot help but bow their knee to the One who created all things.

Photos by Ivana CajinaJonathan BorbaJosh Boot, & Oscar Ivan Esquivel Arteaga on Unsplash

Your Place

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13

How do you see you?

Before you gaze into the mirror, what do you know you will see?

Automatically judge yourself?

Don’t measure up? To what?

What’s the measure? Goal?

It’s never enough. You know that, right?

As soon as you measure up, the stick moves.

Always higher. Never done.

But how does God see you?

As His beloved. He sees you covered in His righteousness.

There is nothing you can do to earn His love.

Nothing you can do to have less of it either.

Look at yourself again.

Notice your strength.

Your faith. Your peace.

It’s all from God.

When you look, do you see God?

As a child of God, we are made in His image.

He created you perfectly.

As you keep surrendering to Him, His light will shine brighter and brighter through you.

As you live from the tree of life, your reflection will mirror His.

You are chosen.

Loved.

Valued.

Secure.

See God at work in yourself.

See God’s protection covering you.

See your value as God’s beloved.

See and know your place as His truth.

And then believe.

Photos by Ethan Robertson, Raphaël Biscaldi, & Unsplash Photo by Vicko Mozara on Unsplash