Matthew 5:14, 16 You are the light of the world… let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Live in a way that won’t blaspheme the name of God. On the one hand, don’t care about human reputation. On the other hand, don’t give reason for others to speak poorly of you. But be moderate on both issues. For Christ left us here to be lights. We are here to teach others and be like leaven in dough. We should go about as angels among people, as adults among children, as spiritual people among those who are natural. In this way they can profit as we become seeds bearing copious gruit. There is no need to speak if we shine through our lives. There is no need for teachers if we only demonstrate through our works. There would be no unbelievers if we were the Christians we should be. Everyone would convert to godliness if we generally kept the commandments of Christ, suffered through insults, allowed others to take advantage of us, blessed when we were cursed and did good when treated poorly. For example, Paul was only one man, yet how many followed him? If we were all like him, how many worlds could we have following us?
By Chrysostom
Day by Day with the Early Church Fathers. By Christopher Hudson, Alan Sharrer, & Lindsay Vanker, pg. 135.
