Here are verses three and four from 2 Samuel 23 in the New Living Translation (NLT). The God of Israel spoke. The Rock of Israel said to me: ‘The one who rules righteously, who rules in the fear of God, is like the light of morning at sunrise, like a morning without clouds, like the gleaming of the sun on new grass after rain.’

When we do what is right, what is just, we shine like a sunrise.

We are only righteous when Christ’s righteous life is in us and we’re walking in the Spirit, allowing Christ to lead us as our Lord. God alone is good. If we are doing what is right, it can only be Him doing it.

This righteous shining reminds me of this other verse.

Daniel 12:3 (NLT) Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever.

God alone is wise, so if we are wise, we are walking in the Spirit and allowing Him to give us His thoughts. God alone can save, so if we are leading many to righteousness, then we are allowing Him to work through us.

We’re to let our lights shine, but Jesus is the light of the world. He’s the one who shines.

We first need His life in us by repentance and receiving forgiveness and the Holy Spirit to dwell in us. Then we need to allow God to have His way in our lives to be continually working in and through us, cleansing us from unrighteousness as we confess and reject the sin He reveals in us and submitting to His direction as He leads us to serve others in His name.

By Christ’s light in us we can shine today and always.