A Daily Devotion for Thursday, January 22
- ontrakk
- Jan 22
- 1 min read
Matthew 5:13-16
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.“
If we are to be the light of the world, our actions ought to be worth illuminating. Not for our own glory, but for God’s glory. The healthcare worker from today’s devotion was probably not handing out cash or presenting each patient a hand made quilt. She was more likely smiling, being pleasant and positive, maybe showing some sense of humor. This is God’s light. And it is also worth remembering (for me) to include this prayer as often as I can remember to do it. May I shine God’s light, everyday, everywhere I go. Lord, help me to shine. Amen
Becky, transforming
Matthew 5:13-16. You Are Shining
Every month after our story telling time at Bel-Air, we sing lots of songs. One of our/my favorites is "This Little Light of Mine." I always remind them that their light is their smile. I tell them to smile as big as they can while we sing. I love to see that even those who are often not aware, know how to smile. It fills my heart. I know the music has a lot to do with it but I just love to see all those smiles.
Prayer: Gracious God, thank you for the opportunity to be with these wonderful Bel-Air residents. I always leave smiling and feeling so happy. AMEN
Thursday, January 22nd, 2026
YOU ARE SHINING
(Focus: health care workers
Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
This verse involves having a positive, encouraging presence, serving others selflessly, and standing for what's right, making our life a visible story of our light. There are many ways to let our light shine before others. We can volunteer at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter, donate money to a charity, or be kind and compassionate to someone in need or helping with community outreach, We can also lend an ear to a friend who is going through a…
Matthew 5:13-16
This passage today reminded me of the phrase that Pastor Jen used recently in the Transformers group, something like, “Go out and spread the Gospel, use words if you have to”. Our actions big and small are full of influence. How we use them it’s so very important. In this reading, Jesus references, salt. Salt, when it is used properly in a recipe subtly enhances the taste, it does not dominate the food, not enough blends in and is not noticed, too much makes the food inedible. We should be that salt, in living a life the glorifies God, our actions should be just enough to make a positive difference in others but not so much that …
Matthew 5:13-16
My desk lamp has two bulbs. One shines brightly all the time, but the other, from time to time, starts flickering. I want to be the kind of Christian whose light is strong and steady, illuminating dark corners of this hurting world. More often than I would like, I find myself more like the short-circuited bulb that is occasionally ineffective and can even an annoyance. Seeing and experiencing how others shine is a reminder and encouragement for me to better represent Christ’s City on a Hill, and I give thanks for their lighting my path.
Prayer - Jesus, Light of the World, help me to let my light shine so that through my good works, You, the Father…