Sing for joy, you heavens, for the Lord has done this;
    shout aloud, you earth beneath.
Burst into song, you mountains,
    you forests and all your trees,
for the Lord has redeemed Jacob,
    he displays his glory in Israel.

Jesus taught:

You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16.

Peter writes:

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9.

As with Israel in the Old Testament, so it is the call of the church in the New to shine. This we do by reflecting Jesus, who is ‘The light of the world.’ I think of our calling in terms of being ‘moons’. We have no light of our own, but we reflect the rays of the One who is ‘the Sun of Righteousness’ (Malachi 4:2). It is because we are in a definite relationship with Him that we are enabled to be ‘lesser lights’ (see Genesis 1:16). It is his glory on display in us. That’s why when people see our good deeds the result is that they glorify God. They are experiencing something God-given, and not man-made.

Thought: Am I a quarter-moon, half-moon, three-quarter moon, full moon – or just a sliver?!