"Let It Shine!!!"

 Legendary Grambling University football coach Eddie Robinson is widely recognized as one of the winningest coaches in history of college football. Robinson coached three American Football League players who would later be inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame:

The Kansas City Chiefs' Buck Buchanan; the Oakland Raiders' Willie Brown; and the Houston Oilers' Charlie Joiner.

Robinson coached James Harris, who with the AFL's Buffalo Bills became the first black quarterback in modern Pro Football history to start at that position in a season opener.

He also coached Packers defensive end and Hall of Famer Willie Davis and the Super Bowl XXII MVP, Redskins quarterback Doug Williams, who would ultimately succeed Robinson as Grambling's head coach in 1998.

Whenever the names of these students are mentioned, coach Robinson is always remembered as their mentor.

What an awesome testimony to a life which would become legendary in the anals of sports history....

But lets not concentrate soley on the football lessons each of these men learned from coach Robinson; he also mentored and nurtured them concerning lifes lessons which garnered success for each both on and off the field of play.

So then; as a professed disciple of Christ let me ask these questions:

How many people have you influenced since accepting Jesus as your Savior and Lord?"

How many lives have you touched, how many people have benefited from your being a blessing to them in one way or another?

How many view you as a godly and positive mentor to them?

Have you ever given any thought to what will be your legacy after you've been called from earth to glory? The word of God does give us a blue-print for legendary success

Matthew 5:16 reads - "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven...."

As we endevor to become imitators of Christ, we must be careful not to conduct ourselves in ways that dishonor God and His Kingdom Principles. Becoming an imitator of Christ requires that we love as He does, maintain constant communication with the Father, and demonstrate a life of holiness before others that brings Him glory.

Accomplishing these goals require that we must truly know who Jesus is in our life.

The Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 3:7-10 - "7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings..."

Truthfully speaking, our goal is not to have people see us; but Christ living big on the inside of us.

We read throughout His earthly ministry that everything Jesus did; the many miracles He performed, lessons He taught; the life that He lived, was all done to glorify and bring attention to the Father.

Having that same attitude will gain the believer instant access to the Kingdom of God, and more importantly; it will aide in leading others to know and love Jesus.

Remember:  As disciples of Christ we are charged to go and make disciples of others...Let the world see your shine!