A Shining Light

[Jesus said,] “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. . . . Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”

Matthew 5:14, 16

On the last night of mission camp, each camper was given an unlit candle. All the lights were extinguished in the big-top tent so everyone was sitting in the dark. Then one of the camp counselors lit a candle. This candle represented the light of Jesus. Even though the candle was small, it shone brightly because everything around it was dark. If the lights had been on, the lone lit candle wouldn’t have been seen. But because the tent was dark, the single light shone brightly.

The first camp counselor lit the candle of the next counselor to symbolize sharing the light of the gospel. The second counselor then lit the candle of a third counselor, and so on, until all the counselors had lit candles. By the light of those few candles, the campers could dimly see those gathered in the tent. Each counselor lit the candle of a camper, and each camper in turn lit the candle of the camper next to him or her, until everyone was holding a lit candle. The whole tent was ablaze with candlelight.

But the light of the candles wasn’t meant to stay in the tent. The light of God’s Word, the salvation message, is meant to be shared. The campers carefully walked out of the tent, single file, by candlelight and headed to a bus to leave for their summer mission projects. During the projects, their lives would be a light for those who didn’t believe in God or hadn’t heard about him.

God has called you to be a light for him too. You don’t have to leave on a mission trip to do that. Your life can shine brightly right where you are. Each time you say a kind word or cheerfully help someone, the love of Jesus shines through you. Each time you smile in encouragement or put someone’s needs ahead of your own, your light is shining.

Remember, even a lone candle flame lights up the dark. Shine your light for Jesus this week.

Try the candle lighting for yourself. Ask a parent to get a candle for each family member who is old enough to safely hold a lit candle. Wait until dark, and then go outside, away from streetlights. Have a parent light the candles one at a time. How much difference does a single candle make? How about when they are all lit? What happens if you spread out, each person going to a different corner of the yard? Talk about ways you can shine for Jesus individually and as a family.