COMMENTARY

Don Atkin

WORKS THAT GLORIFY THE FATHER

I have been pondering Jesus’ words from the Sermon on the Mount (Kingdom bylaws):

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven - Matthews 5:16

There is more to this than meets the eye.

The Hebrew writer lists repentance from dead works (of the flesh, which cannot please God) as one of the elementary principles of the oracle of God. Paul tells us that we are saved by grace, through faith, and not of works. What about others seeing our good works? What gives?

Jesus gives us an important insight. He said, I must work the works of Him who sent Me . . .

The works of Him - the works that He has sent each one of us to do - these are the works that glorify Him. (How shall they preach unless they are sent?) Nicodemus recognized the works that glorify the Father: Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.

God is with you! Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Let your light shine. You cannot make it shine!

Christ working through you, the good works that glorify the Father. It’s not what we do for Him. It’s what He does through us by the anointing that glorifies the Father. The judgment of works is reserved for those who "write their own stories" rather than simply being included in His story.

Our job: Working toward purity and transparency so that only He is seen. Our efforts to make ourselves attractive can be distracting.

Our place: On the cross, denying self, dying to self, crucifying the flesh, and eliminating anything and everything that might draw attention to us and away from the light of His glory.

In the Spirit, we are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.