KINGDOM VALUES IN A WORLDLY TERRAIN
JULY 24, 2026
TEXT: MATTHEW 5
KEY VERSE: “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)
We are surrounded by unbelievers and mischievous people in this world of ours, and if care is not taken, one may find it quite difficult to navigate and sustain one’s purity in such a polluted world.
Our given text encourages us as believers to blaze forth the light of God that is in us and ensure that people see Christ in us at all times and glorify our Father who is in heaven. This call is one of the clearest calls to Christian witness in the Bible. Light exists to overcome darkness, reveal truth, and show the right direction.
Christ is the source of our light, and through the light that shines from Him, we are expected to radiate the same to those around us (John 8:12).
When people who do not believe see us, they should identify God’s nature in us. People should notice something different about our lives. The good works that we manifest validate the message we try to pass across. A message being passed by someone not qualified to pass it is a mess. (Ephesians 2:8–9).
Our lifestyles must point people to Christ even before we open our mouths to speak. Many will observe our pattern of living before they even lend their ears to whatever we have to say (1 Peter 2:12).
HOW CAN WE MAKE OUR LIGHT SHINE BEFORE MEN?
- Integrity: Believers must be people of integrity. People must be able to trust whatever is said, professed, or done by a believer. It is difficult for a man whose life is questionable to convince people to believe in the God he claims to love.
- Love: We must love others around us, regardless of whether that love is reciprocated or not. (1 Corinthians 13:1).
- Forgiveness: This is one of the traits of a believer who has the light of God in him or her. How can you be a person who harbours malice, yet still have the courage to preach to the same set of people?
- Holiness: As lights, our holiness should not be inferential or merely verbal, but clearly demonstrative. It should be manifestly visible to all and sundry.
SEARCHLIGHT: The work of evangelism is unachievable without first putting our own house in order as believers. This is because we are the template of what we want others to demonstrate, and our template must not differ from our expectations for unbelievers.
PRAYER: O LORD, help me to shine brightly in an ungodly world, in Jesus’ name.
BIBLE READING: Psalm 66–68, Revelation 17
PASTOR MICHAEL OMOLE
