Why does it always seem to be one glove? Rarely do I see two lost gloves. A lost glove caught my eye on an early morning dog walk. The anonymous glove-rescuer had their wits about them. The glove was placed at eye-level and well secured amongst the tree branches. A strong wind would not dislodge it, and no leaves would obscure it. Anyone walking that particular path could not fail to notice the lone glove. It was unmissable.
Christians are meant to be unmissable. Just as “a town built on a hill cannot be hidden.” (Matthew 5:14 NIV11), we are to be “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14 NIV11). How does this work? Here are two quick tips.
- Live by different values for their own sake. The beatitudes come before the command to let our light shine. The light will shine because we live by different values. Living the beatitudes is something a Christ-follower does for the sake of loving God, not so that they can shine. If we live differently because it pleases God we will avoid the trap of becoming self-righteous and obnoxious.
- Do good and people will notice. If the people around us going to “see your good deeds” (v16), it is important that we are doing them. All the pious spirituality of a godly heart is of no value if it is not translated into godly action. God’s people are “eager to do what is good.” (Titus 2:14 NIV11), because Jesus is like that too. He “went around doing good” (Acts 10:38 NIV11), and so can we.
I hope the glove is reunited with its owner. I am sure of one thing – if they walk the right path they will find what was lost. May it be that anyone crossing our path will see a light they never expected and find a God they never knew they had lost.
Malcolm
