let your light so shine

The Word for today:
Jeremiah 44, 45

Baruch, Jeremiah's assistant, is warned not to seek great things for himself:
Should you then seek great things for yourself? Seek them not. (Jeremiah 45:5)

The key word in the warning is 'yourself.' God never told Baruch not to seek greatness.

I seek greatness every day. I have not yet achieved it, but someday I am going to find the words to express the greatness of Jesus Christ. It might be in an article, or in a speech, or while teaching. I don't know what form it will take, but I'm going to tell how great He is if I have to lasso infinity to do it.

All of us who labor in the service of the LORD should seek great things for Jesus. Maybe you were given a blog to write. Maybe you teach the third grade Sunday School class. Maybe you trim the hedges and mow the lawn around the church.

Or maybe you play the drum in the band. Whatever role you play, play your best for him. Seek great things for him. The Holy Spirit has gifted and energized us to sing, write, teach, serve, love, pray, live, give, and bang the drum in ways which proclaim one theme: "How Great Thou Art."

Jesus told us to "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."  (Matthew 5:16)

May we never forget the little word 'so.' It seems that Baruch was letting his spotlight so shine that it was aimed at himself. When God gently corrected him, I have an idea that Baruch's light swung back on Jesus in an instant.

Make the same correction if you must. And then let your pen so write, your voice so sing, your hands so help, your heart so care, or your drum so beat that you reflect your great Savior and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

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