Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

The first word here is let. It indicates cooperation. A light shines in darkness, which is its purpose. The part of shining forth is a matter of cooperative performance. Jesus hinted to us about the effectiveness of obedience of faith in regards to this.

Matthew 6:21-23 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

What do you treasure? Jesus connected the light of the eye with the condition of the heart. Do you treasure Christ above all else? If the answer to that is yes, then your eye is single, there is no darkness in you and the light will shine outwardly to be seen by all you encounter.

If on the other hand you treasure attention, fame, rewards, titles, accolades, accumulation of wealth or anything of this world before Christ, then even if Christ dwells in you, that light is forced to shine upon the darkness in you. That prevents the light from shining outwardly.

The love of Christ will and must achieve a work in you before He can achieve a work through you.

James 3:11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

Ephesians 4:14-16 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Yesterday I spoke about promotion because it is a human condition to seek promotion. Achievement of goals is entrenched in our society. That is one of the reasons you see megachurches. The thinking is that the bigger the draw, the bigger the influence, the larger the donations, and the more good that can be done. That is man thinking, not Christ thinking.

Kingdom advancement come with growth in Christ. Growth in Christ is the Spirit performing the conformation, sanctification and transformation of your life. The abundant life of John 10:10 isn’t a worldly abundance, it is more and more of Christ being glorified in you.

Romans 8:29-30 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

To be glorified is to shine the light of Christ in you, the outward expression of Christ who dwells in your heart.

John 1:16-17 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Grace received is grace extended in mature Christians.