The Night-Light

Bible Reading: Matthew 5:14-16

Nora sighed. Everybody’s doing something, she thought as she listened to the conversation at the table. Everybody but me. Pastor James had come for dinner, and so far the discussion was all about the events their church was putting together to reach people with the gospel. Mom was going to sing with the choir downtown, Dad was in charge of a men’s breakfast, and Nora’s older brother offered to make posters to advertise the kids’ program. Nora pushed her food around on her plate.

I wish I were big enough to help, she thought.

Just then Pastor James turned to Nora. “Do you have any friends you can invite to the kids’ program?” he asked.

Nora nodded. “I guess so,” she murmured, still wishing she could have a real job like Mom and Dad and her brother did.

As Mom tucked Nora into bed later that night, Nora shared her thoughts. “Honey,” said Mom, “inviting friends and praying for them is a real job. It’s every bit as important as what any of us are doing.”

But Nora wasn’t convinced.

“Do you get enough light in your room from your night-light? Or shall I leave the overhead light on?” Mom asked as she turned to leave. “Or I could get a lamp from the living room. Would you like that?”

“No!” exclaimed Nora in surprise. “That would be way too bright and keep me awake. The night-light is perfect.”

“So both big lights and small lights are needed, right? And I think they’re equally important, don’t you?”

“Yep,” said Nora. “When I wake up at night, I like the little night-light. But when I read, I need the bigger lights.”

Mom nodded. “They just have different purposes. And that’s true of people too—and of tasks that need to be done. They’re all needed, and big ones and little ones are equally important. They all help more people know about Jesus. And since you know Him as your Savior, you can be a light for Him in whatever tasks He gives you.”

Nora thought about that. “Okay. I’ll invite my friends to the kids’ program.” She grinned. “I’ll be a night-light for Jesus.”

-Hazel W. Marett

How About You?

Are you too young to preach? To organize meetings? To prepare a dinner? That’s okay. Someday the Lord may ask you to do those things. But right now, perhaps you—not your parent or your pastor—can be a friend to the new kid at school, or pray for your teacher, or invite your classmates to church. Whatever God asks you to do, be willing to do it. Be a light for Jesus.

Today’s Key Verse:
Luke 16:10 Whoever is faithful in very little is also faithful in much. (CSB)

Today’s Key Thought:

Your tasks are important