On Monday evening, I joined in with over 26 million others in watching the College Football Playoff National Championship game. What a great game! It was a rematch of last year’s championship game between Alabama and Clemson. Alabama prevailed last year but Clemson won in dramatic fashion Monday night. If you are a Crimson Tide fan don’t hold it against me but I was cheering for Clemson. It’s not that I really love Clemson but I was pulling for the underdog. Besides, Alabama won it last year – it was Clemson’s turn. And if you are not a fan of football and could care less about the game, don’t stop reading – this blog post is not really about football.

Standing on the trophy presentation stage after the game, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said he knew his guys wouldn’t quit. He said, “I talked to them about letting the light inside of them always be brighter than the light that is shining on them. If they focused on that, they’d be okay.”

Well said, Dabo. Well said. I do believe this will preach! On a different stage of sorts, it was Jesus who said, “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

How’s your light shining? Are others more fixated on the light shining on you or the light shining in you? Who is seeing the light within? Your husband/wife? Your children? Do those at work see the light on you or the light in you? Your students? Your teachers? Your friends? Do those who read your Facebook posts see the light shining on you or the light within you? Strangers you run into throughout the day?

Let the light shining inside of you be brighter than the light shining on you!