“Shine bright like a diamond.” – Rihanna, famous singer

May kasabihan that actions speak louder than words. “When you smile, the whole world smile back at you.” Mahirap maging Kristiyano dahil lahat nakatingin sa atin. How you live your life is your way of sending message to others. They don’t know your Bible, and they don’t know your God, they don’t understand your belief.

2 Corinthians 6:16 says this: “We, believers, are now the temple of the living God!” John 4:7 says this: “We show His love by loving others.” I believe that a church is not just a place to go, but it is our living body where God wants us to become a part of. We are all called to be witnesses or ambassadors of Jesus. It’s not about buildings, titles or qualification. We are the church. The way people see our God is through us.

Most people are not reading the Bible but they read our lives. They don’t go to church to hear preachers talk but they watch the way we live. Kaya dapat tayo laging masaya. Laging masarap kasama. That’s what it meant to be the light of the world.

Pumupunta tayo ng church to be equipped and inspired by the Words of God. But the next thing to do is how we live in the four corners of our homes. How are we in there? Sino tayo kung wala ng nakakakita sa atin? You are who you are when nobody is watching you.

There was a girl who borrowed a flash light from her dad. She turned it on and said: “Daddy, I cannot see the light on this flash light.” Her father replied, “You will not see the light because it’s a broad day light. Let’s wait until the night time comes when it’s dark, you will see that this flashlight will shine brighter.” It is easy to shine to those good people and to those people who love us. But what about those who hate us? That’s an opportunity for you to shine brighter. The darker the situation, the brighter your light can shine.

The same way with that flashlight, that device is not designed to work in daylight, on a bright sunny day. This is because it is designed to work in darkness. Darkness is not a thing of its own. There is no such thing as “presence of darkness” because darkness is the absence of light. Albert Einstein said: God did not create evil. Just as darkness is the absence of light, evil is the absence of God.”

Jesus said in the Book of St. John 8:12 ESV, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” If you were a true Christian, people wouldn’t have to beg you to come to church. Because going to church is another way of recharging your battery; otherwise, you will run empty.

You are the light of the world. Shine brightly. Do not add to the darkness of this world. Turn your light on and let the world see the light of Jesus in you. Let us tell the world of His love – the greatest love of all beyond human comprehension. Do not join people who are complainers or gossipers. Don’t turn your lights off. Let it be seen and know what your light is designed for. Let it shine brightly.

“No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:15-16).

Kung binato ka, batuhin mo rin sya ng pag-ibig. The Book of Romans 12:21: “Do not be overcome with evil but overcome evil with good.” Kaya kahit ginawan ka ng masama or hindi ka kayang gantihan ng mabuti ng mga taong natulungan mo – natutulog ba ang Diyos? He is our vindicator, He is our justice, He is our rewarder.

Joseph could have complained: “Lord, akala ko po ba maganda plans mo sa buhay ko? Bakit ganito?” In 13 years, naglingkod sya kay Potiphar, captain of the King’s Guard, Despite serving his master for 11 years, he was falsely accused of raping his boss’s wife. He was imprisoned for two years. But despite being imprisoned, he maintained a good attitude; he was made the warden and supervisor of everything happening in the prison. Hindi nya binago ang kanyang pagkatao dahil lang sa nangyari sa kanya. He then met the King’s butler, who introduced him to the King, and the King made him the prime minister of Egypt. He then said to his brothers who betrayed him, “What you meant for my harm, God used it for my advantage.” What was with Joseph? He let his light shine brightly. It’s not always our job to change other people’s lives unless it is your children where you have to train them, instruct them of the good stuff. When we always try to change others and they don’t, we will always be sour because they don’t do what we want.

In the Bible, David became loyal to King Saul but in the turn of event, King Saul went out to kill him. Habang tumutugtog ng harp si David, King Saul threw a spear that almost killed David. King Saul did everything to kill David. But David never complained. He did the right thing. While King Saul was sleeping, David could have killed King Saul but David decided to cut a small piece of cloth in the king’s robe. When King Saul woke up and realised that David could have ended his life, Saul said: “David, you’re a good man. You’re better than me. I allowed anger and envy ruled my life. But you did not.” Saul left and crowned David to be the Israel’s next king. David became the most prominent king Israel had. In fact, Jesus was said to be from the bloodline of David.

May mga tao sa buhay mo na kelangan pasinagin mo ang iyong liwanag. Keep doing the right thing even if you think it does not make any big difference. Keep being respectful even if others are super angry to you. While I was a law student, I heard someone said, “Don’t believe Don yet. He was still studying.” Then later on, “Don’t believe Don, he was just a trainee solicitor. He was a junior lawyer.” People are bitter when they see you growing and being promoted. They don’t like that you are getting higher and higher. “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my. enemies.” Psalm 23:5. I was then promoted from being a paralegal, then a trainee solicitor, junior lawyer and then my employer offered me to become a co-partner with the law firm I was working on.

Jeff. I saw a guy on the internet who was about to be sent home. His employer was nasty to him. He was not getting paid correctly and was simply a bad employer. He caught my attention in the Group Chat sa Facebook. He was about to go to the airport but I assessed his case and it seems something was wrong. His employer was supposed to drop him off at the airport to ensure that he boards the plane to the Philippines. He said on FB Group Chat that he had no money. I sent him $100 into his bank account. I asked him to travel to London. I met him and I entrusted him to my couple friends who were very nice. I represented him to the Immigration Office and they agreed that he deserves to be granted another visa to stay in the UK. Now, Jeff is attending our church and is happy as he can be.

Jesus said in the Bible: “Let your light shine before men so they may see your good works.” It means that we are commanded to let our light shine to everybody, not just to those people who have everything, but to those people who are in darkness, so that they may see our good works and they too can give glory to our God. In the Book of 2 Corinthians 5 it says this: “We are God’s personal representatives on earth.” How are we doing? Nagugustuhan ba nila ang meron tayo? Gusto ba nila malaman saan tayo nagsisimba – because we are good.

As a qualified lawyer, the court can accept even my words – as my Undertaking – which is a promise. Let your words be your honor. Few years ago, may isang nasa Korea ang tumawag sa akin. Wala daw syang pamasahe pauwi sa Pinas tapos pinahihirapan pa sya ng POLO South Korea – Labor Office. Mga 2 weeks pa daw sya makakauwi. I sent him money to be able to come home to his family dahil TNT na din sya doon. But the problem is he could not go home. The Labor Attache South Korea told him may mga exit visa pa pala. I spoke to our DFA Manila, my Dad had a friend there. The following day, he texted me: “Atty, I’ve got my exit visa. Thank you so much po. Makikita ko na family ko.” He is now attending our church.

Do not let Satan blow your light out. Let it shine so that other’s can find their way out of the darkness – so that they can find their way back home to God. When you shine, you don’t shine for yourself. You shine so that those who are in darkness may see.

Remember that your life is a message of God. Be an answer to someone else’s prayer. When you are in a dark place, let your light shine. Live life representing the God that we serve. Be an encourager, be a great influence to those people who have lost hope. By shining brightly, you are making a big difference to someone else’s life.