A Light in the Dark

Bible Reading: John 8:12

Rain pattered against the window as Will sat on the couch, reading. The rain got louder and louder as the wind picked up, and then a flash of lightning lit up the sky, followed by a crash of thunder. Suddenly the room plummeted into darkness.

“Hey!” Will shouted.

“It’s the storm. It knocked our power out,” said Will’s dad, walking over to the window. “Look, the whole block is out.”

Will got up. “Ow!” he said, banging his knee against the coffee table. “I can’t see anything!”

“Hold on,” said Dad.

There was a rustle of movement, a scratching sound, and then a burst of light as Dad lit a candle and set it on the coffee table. Warm orange light filled the room. He lit a few more candles, and soon the room was much brighter.

Will collapsed back on the couch and rubbed his knee. “It’s a good thing we had the candles. I don’t want another bruise.”

Dad laughed. “Walking in the dark isn’t smart. You can get lost or hurt yourself.” He pointed at Will’s knee. “We need light. We’re helpless without it.”

“That sounds a lot like the verse we learned in my class at church last week,” said Will. “It talked about Jesus being the light.”

Dad nodded. “In the Bible, Jesus says He is the light of the world. Without Him, we are walking blind in the darkness of sin. But with Jesus as our light, He chases all the darkness away. Through His life, death, and resurrection, He shines His love and forgiveness on us so that we can see and follow Him. Without Him, we’re lost.”

Will rubbed his sore knee. “But what if the light goes out?”

Dad shook his head. “Jesus is the light no darkness can defeat. He has promised us eternal life with Him, and nothing can separate us from His love.”

Just then the lights flickered back on. Will smiled and picked up his book. The storm was passing. “Better leave the candles, Dad. We need the light.”

-Cathryn Free

How About You?

Have you ever been lost in the dark? Maybe you got up in the middle of the night to get a drink and stubbed your toe or thought you saw something moving in the shadows. But what happens when you turn on the light? You can see, and suddenly it’s not scary anymore. Without Jesus, we are lost in the darkness of sin and death. But just like turning on a light in a dark room, Jesus shines His love in our lives. He forgives our sins, saves us from Satan and death, and guides us in our walk with Him each day.

Today’s Key Verse:
John 8:12 (NIV) [Jesus] said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Today’s Key Thought:

Jesus is the light of the world