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Let Your Light So Shine

I'm sitting here preparing to teach on leadership tomorrow in Church, and so I've been thinking.

How often do I think of myself as a leader? Seldom. I feel that even when in positions of leadership, I'm not very likely to attribute that title to myself. I'm just little ol' me, just plodding along, making the best of life. But a leader? I'm not spectacular enough to be one of those.

Am I right in assuming that I'm not the only one who feels that way?

Then I read Matthew 5:14-16, and in the context of leadership, it took on a different meaning for me.

"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

The Lord did not give us light purposelessly. The Leader of the Universe made us to become like Him. So we are meant to learn to lead. We were made to be leaders. I was made to be a leader. I am a leader to my children. I can lead others to Christ. I can be an example as I try to live my best. If I deny or ignore that inherent part of me, I'm not living up to who the Lord knows I can become. So how can I fully embrace the responsibility I have to shine His light?

I think that as I strive to become a better follower of Christ, I will become a better leader. And vice versa. As I try to become a better leader, I wil become a better follower, because in following, I am seeking to emulate our Eternal Leader.

Yeah, I don't 'feel like' a leader. (Neither did Moses, or Jonah, or Jeremiah, or Alma or any other prophet we could list) But that does not take away the reality that He wants me to be, that He wants you to be. And He has given us the means to become leaders by being a light to others. As we step forward in our strengths, He will strengthen our weakness.

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