Bible Society of South Africa

Goals and resolutions: Goodness – 9 February 2022

By Charlea Sieberhagen-Grey

Bible text(s)

Matthew 5

15No one lights a lamp and puts it under a bowl; instead he puts it on the lampstand, where it gives light for everyone in the house. 16In the same way your light must shine before people, so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:15-16GNBOpen in Bible reader

In the Bible, when one reads about the lamp that is supposed to be on the lampstand, Jesus’ message is very clear: You need to let your light shine so that everyone is able to see it. You need to live in such a manner that everyone around you knows that you are a child of God.

God wants us to do good deeds and live the right way so that our conduct can be testimony of faith – a light in a dark world. To do good to others and doing good deeds are, indeed, “fruit of the Spirit” as read in Galatians 5:22: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

Well, it may seem as though you need a good dollop of self-confidence or even be a bit vain to let your light shine and to show the world what a good person you are. However, I can say with reasonable certainty that this is not the truth. On the contrary, if you really think about it, the image of a light in a pitch-black room is so powerful. Just think about a little candle flickering when the electricity has just gone out. There is something so reassuring about even the tiniest light when you are sitting on your own in a dark house.

The same applies to goodness. It is gratifying and reassuring to hear about and know people who do good things for others. After all, we live in a world where we often feel overwhelmed by hardship, heartbreaking events and bad news.

We should, therefore, never underestimate the value of a little bit of goodness demonstrated to others, no matter what it is. Even if your light is a flickering match … It will mean something to someone.

Prayer: Dear God, please help me to be a light in a world where it can so easily feel as though the darkness of heartache and hardship will overwhelm us. Help me to do good to other people and to show that I am your servant. Amen

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