As a young boy, I enjoyed singing hymns in church like "Throw Out the Lifeline" and "Let the Lower Lights Be Burning," which used images of shipwreck and danger at sea to illustrate our spiritual responsibility to others. But living in landlocked Oklahoma I had never seen the ocean, and my nautical experience was limited to sailing matchbox boats on mud puddles. I knew the words but had little concept of how to rescue a "fainting, struggling seaman."

But in Sunday school, when we sang "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine," it seemed perfectly clear what I should do. Jesus said, "You are the light of the world. . . . Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:14,16). We memorized the Beatitudes (vv.3-12) as an example of how we could let our lives shine for Him.

As a child I understood that I should not be ashamed to live for Jesus. A secret Christian was like a lamp hidden under a basket instead of shining openly where it could help others (v.15).

Today, people around us are in spiritual danger and darkness. Young or old, we can let our light shine for Him and for them.
  — David C. McCasland