Friday - Let Your Light Shine

Matthew 5:16 — "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

Jesus says the point of our light isn't to draw attention to ourselves. It's to help people see God and give Him glory. That's a purpose worth raising our children for.

Just before this verse, Jesus said, "Ye are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14). He didn't tell His followers to try to become light. He said they already are. That truth belongs to our children too. God made your child on purpose and for a purpose: to brighten the dark world around them.

So teach them that their lives matter. When they show kindness, tell the truth, stand for what's right, and point friends to Jesus, people notice, and God gets the glory.

They won't always get it right. None of us do. But God is faithful to finish what He starts (Philippians 1:6).

Most children learn to shine at home before they shine anywhere else. They learn by watching a mom or dad whose light is on. Your faithfulness at home today may be the very thing God uses in your child's life tomorrow.

It's hard to raise them right. But with God's help, it can be done.