What Makes You Shine?

2 Corinthians 4:1-12 When our middle son was in China as a teacher of English for two years, one of his students asked Ron what made him shine. This student recognized the light of the Lord’s countenance upon Ron. Paul tells us in this letter to the Corinthians that Jesus is the light who has shone into the darkness of our hearts. He says, “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us” (vv. 6-7, KJV).

Jesus is the light of the world that lights every man who is born into this world. Jesus calls us the light of the world, and He exhorts us to let our lights shine before men that they might see our good works and glorify the Father in heaven.

A candle shines the brightest in a very dark place. China is a country where much darkness exists. This is why the light of Jesus through Ron’s face shone so brightly. We are all lights shining the midst of a very dark world.

I had the privilege of seeing the face of Jesus in a vision as I was waking from a Sunday nap. His face was encircled in light, and the expression on His face was one of exuberant joy, exhaustless love and empowering peace. When I saw His face, I asked the Father why He did not choose to show the face of Jesus to the whole world. I remember praying:

Father, if I could just have a video of Jesus’ face and could show it to all my lost friends, they would instantly repent. I know, Father, the love in that face would compel the worst sinner to turn from his ways to follow Jesus.

My request was answered with words that changed my life: “I have not chosen to reveal my Son’s face to the world in such a way. Instead I have chosen all those in the body of Christ to reveal the face of Jesus to others through their faces.”

Is the light of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ shining through your face today?

READ: Job 34:1-36:33; 2 Corinthians 4:1-12; Psalm 44:1-7; Proverbs 22:10-12