READ: JOHN 1:1-5; 8:12; COLOSSIANS 1:9-14

"Look for the light.” Marcos stumbled over a tree root in the path and wondered how his brother Thiago had made it seem so easy. Here in the forest, in the darkness of the cloudy night, there wasn’t any light to be had. But Thiago had said that even here it was possible to see, for the Master said the light was always available to His people.

Marcos took a deep breath and said it out loud. “Look for the light.” An owl hooted above his head, and he glanced up into the night sky. “I’m looking for the light!” he exclaimed in a whisper. No need to let any creatures larger than the owl find him there. For what seemed like forever, he turned slowly in the dark, listening and looking for any help.

There! At first he thought he was imagining things. But now he could see it clearly—just a few yards away was a moonflower. And shortly beyond its glow was another. As plain as they were during the day, moonflowers collected sunlight. Then at night, they could glow in the dark! There was nothing for Marcos to do but follow the flowers. It would be foolish not to.

As quietly as possible, Marcos tiptoed across the forest floor to the first moonflower, and then stepped the distance to the one beyond it. Not far from that flower, another one glowed, and beyond that still more, making up what seemed like a clear path. Then he realized, he shouldn’t have been surprised. He had become so overwhelmed when he got lost, he’d forgotten the very basics of being a citizen of the Great Kingdom. It was law here to plant moonflowers beside the path. In the daylight there was nothing very special about them, but now he understood the flowers were there to help citizens like him keep to the path, even in the darkest places.

It was not long before he found home. “You forgot the firewood!” Thiago called as he opened the door. “I got lost,” Marcos said, out of breath. Thiago clasped his younger brother’s shoulder. “Are you alright?” Marcos nodded. “The Master helped me follow the light.” • Abbi Bloem

• As you read the passages that inspired today’s allegorical story, what sticks out to you? Even in the darkest places, Jesus is our light. He saved us from darkness by His own death and resurrection, and now He is always with us, and He guides us through His Word, His Spirit, and His people. What are some ways you can look for His light when it feels like night has fallen?

• Even just a little bit of light can shine a long way in the darkness. What are some things you can do to point someone to Jesus when they really need it?

Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105 (NLT)