Are You Shining?

I’ve committed this year to read through my Bible again. I’ve done this for several years, and I love how new things pop out every time I read. Some days I feel like I’ve heard everything in the Bible a million times over, and then something hits me like I’ve seen it for the very first time. Hebrews 4:12 tells us, “For the Word of God is living and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” How true that is!

This morning as I was reading in Exodus, a passage really stuck out to me. Read Exodus 34:29-35 below.

“Now it was so, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the Testimony were in Moses’ hand when he came down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him. So when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. Then Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned to him; and Moses talked with them. Afterward all the children of Israel came near, and he gave them as commandments all that the Lord had spoken with him on Mount Sinai. And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face. But whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with Him, he would take the veil off until he came out; and he would come out and speak to the children of Israel whatever he had been commanded. And whenever the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone, then Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with Him.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭34‬:‭29‬-‭35‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

When I read those verses, I felt the Holy Spirit convicting me. Does your face shine after you’ve been with the Lord? Now, I don’t think we’re going to walk around with literal glowing faces everywhere. I felt the Lord convicting me of the question, Do people know you have been with the Lord? We’re not going to walk around with luminescent faces, but people should know we have spent time with the Lord of lords and King of kings.

1 Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” It some versions it says, “peculiar people”. We are different and should be different than the world, not by spewing hate but emanating Jesus.

I want people to know I’ve been with the Lord. I want people to look at me and see Jesus. I want to show His live to those around me. I want my face to shine with His glory.

Are you shining for Jesus today? As little kids we sang, “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.” We sang the words not really understanding what they meant. Now, as we’ve matured we should know that means showing the love of Jesus to those around us. We have to choose each day to let our lights shine.

Lord, help me to shine Your light in this world. May others know I’ve been in your presence. Amen.