“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18).
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
I woke up this morning to the song “Shine” performed by the Newsboys. I’ve never been able to fully understand the lyrics, so I decided to Google them. They’re very weird, but oh so true about how only the love of God can transform people.
Look at the Apostle Paul, or Chuck Colson, or Nicky Cruz (of The Cross and the Switchblade fame). Those are famous examples of people who were transformed by Christ, but I can look at my own life and be very thankful that Jesus also transformed me. I was a liar, self-centered, fearful, a people pleaser, never finding satisfaction in anything I did. When Jesus came into my life, He began the process of transformation, which will continue until I am with Him in glory, but the signs of which you can get a glimpse on a daily basis.
Here are the words to the Newsboys’ song:
Dull as dirt
You can’t assert the kind of light
That might persuade
A strict dictator to retire
Fire the army
Teach the poor origami
The truth is in
The proof is when
You hear your heart stop asking,
“What’s my motivation?”
And try as you may, there isn’t a way
To explain the kind of change
That would make an Eskimo renounce fur
That would make a vegetarian barbecue hamster
Unless you can trace this about-face
To a certain sign…
[Chorus]
Shine
Make ’em wonder what you’ve got
Make ’em wish that they were not
On the outside looking bored
Shine
Let it shine before all men
Let’em see good works, and then
Let ’em glorify the Lord
Out of the shaker and onto the plate
It isn’t Karma
It sure ain’t fate
That would make a Deadhead sell his van
That would make a schizophrenic turn in his crayons
Oprah freaks
And science seeks a rationale
That shall excuse
This strange behavior
When you let it shine
You will inspire
The kind of entire turnaround
That would make a bouncer take ballet
(even bouncers who aren’t happy)
But out of the glare
With nowhere to turn
You ain’t gonna learn it on “What’s My Line?”
[Chorus]
Shine
Make ’em wonder what you’ve got
Make ’em wish that they were not
On the outside looking bored
Shine
Let it shine before all men
Let’em see good works, and then
Let ’em glorify the Lord
Thankful today for:
204. mlb.com
205. other people’s cooking
206. a breeze through open doors and windows
207. modern dentistry
208. a good testing week so far
209. blossoms on my spathiphyllum (aka peace lily)
Compelled 