Bible Reading: 1 John 2:3-6

“Look at how bright the stars are tonight!” Dawson’s little brother, Parker, gaped at the sky from his spot on the lawn.

“Yeah, and the moon is really bright too,” said Dawson.

“Why is it so bright?” asked Parker. “Is it a great big ball of fire?”

Dawson laughed and shook his head. “The sun is more like a ball of fire. The moon doesn’t actually have any light at all. It reflects the light of the sun–that’s why it looks bright. I learned about that in my science class.”

“Come on in, boys!” called Mom. “It’s time to get to bed.”

The boys got up from the grass and headed for the house. Once they were inside, Parker ran over to the window and pointed to the moon. “Guess what, Mom! Dawson told me that the moon isn’t really a big fireball–it just reflects the sun’s light. Did you know that?”

Mom smiled. “Yes, I did know that. Now scoot along to bed, or morning will come before you’re ready for it.”

After church the following day, Dawson asked his parents a question that had been puzzling him. “My teacher says people are supposed to see Jesus in us. But we aren’t Jesus, so how can they see Him? I don’t get it.”

“Well,” said Mom, “remember what you told Parker about the sun and the moon when you were outside last night?”

“Sure,” said Dawson. “I said the moon reflects the light of the sun.”

“Right,” said Mom. “The moon isn’t the sun, but it reflects it. When people look at the moon, the light they see is really the light of the sun. And we’re not Jesus, but because we belong to Him and have His Spirit in us, we can reflect His light. When people see what we do and how we treat others, they should be seeing Jesus’s character shining through us.”

“That’s right,” said Dad. “When we trust the Holy Spirit to help us be kind, patient, truthful, and unselfish, we reflect Jesus and His great love for everyone. Just like the moon reflects the light of the sun, Christians are able to reflect the love of God’s Son–Jesus.”

–Anna E. Baumeister

How About You?
If you’re a Christian, do others see the love of Jesus reflected in your life? When you show others the same kind of love Jesus showed us by dying for our sins, others will see Him in you. But you can’t do it on your own–Jesus gave you the Holy Spirit so you can shine His light to others. Trust the Spirit to help you and guide you as you reflect Jesus’s love to those around you.

Today’s Key Verse:
Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps. (NKJV) (1 Peter 2:21)

Today’s Key Thought:
Let Jesus be seen in you