The sun has got his hat on, hip hip hip hooray, the sun has got his hat on and he's coming out to play.

 My son has been learning this song at nursery, and I think it reflects a very British mentality - that our happiness is linked to the weather!  We love a good moan about the rain and the wind, and then when the sun comes out there is rejoicing (unless it gets too hot, then that's worth another moan I'd say....).  The warmth of the sun is nice though, and seeing the brightness of it lighting up the world, the colours it creates at sunrise and sunset, really does bring joy and happiness.  

 Now lets think about this weeks verse:

 "Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven"

 Good deeds and the light that shines from you have a similar effect to the sun coming out on British people - they bring joy and happiness. Who doesn't love it and feel a burst of joy when someone gives them a present, or when someone holds a door open for them, or when a need is met that you didn't know how it was going to be?  When you meet someone who is being selfless it brings a smile to our faces. 
But that joy and happiness it not purposeless.  This verse says that if you are doing that out of the light Jesus has given you, then there is a reason for doing the good deeds and something else that should come out of it - glorifying God.  You see happiness is fleeting, and as quickly as we smile because of a good deed, something horrible can happen that takes that away.  God never intended for our good deeds to just bring happiness, but to point people to the true source of those good deeds - himself.

 Just as we love the warmth of the suns rays, we accept and look to the sun as the source of those and sing our "sun has got his hat on" song.  When we feel the "warmth" of good deeds we shouldn't just smile and go on our merry way, but look to the ultimate source of those good deeds - our loving Father in Heaven who has equipped us to do them.

 What did you get out of this verse?  Please do comment below.
NEXT WEEK:
A will be taking a look back in Psalms at the following verse - please join me!

 "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path" Psalm 119:105

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