One time I lived next to a young woman who had planted her first tomato plants. My plants became covered with little yellow flowers that turned into luscious tomatoes. One day Amy looked at them with envy. "I don't understand why my tomato plants don't bloom and have tomatoes," she exclaimed. "They have nothing but leaves."

She showed me where her tomatoes were planted. "These are in the shade most of the day, but mine are in the sunlight," I said. "Tomatoes, other vegetables, and fruits need a lot of sunshine in order to produce fruit," I said. "Next year plant your tomatoes in a sunny spot."

Christians are a lot like plants in this respect, for they need the Lord's light to grow, bloom for Jesus, and produce fruit for Him. How can we have His light? Jesus said that He is the light of the world. Those who follow him will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life (John 8:12). We need to follow Jesus to have His light!

One time I went camping and forgot to bring along my flashlight. After it got dark I walked to the restrooms through thedark. Suddenly my foot hit a tree stump and I went sprawling on my face in the pine needles! And wow! Did my big toe ever hurt! Believe me, I never forgot my flashlight after that!

Those who don't follow the Lord closely walk in darkness. They not only may suffer a temporary hurt like stubbing their big toes, but they may do foolish things that will hurt their whole lives. When we walk in darkness, we can't see where we're going or what we're doing. But if we follow God's Son, Jesus, He'll light our paths with Son-shine!

Psalm 119:105 says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path." That's why good Christians read God's Word daily, faithfully attend a church where God's Word is taught, and memorize God's Word. Doing these things helps to protect us from the diabolical prince of darkness, Satan, who would lead us into dark pathways. (See Ephesians 2:1-2.)

According to Jesus Christ, those who walk in His light have a light to shine to others. He told His followers, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).

We grow and produce fruit for Jesus when we shine for Him. We shine for Him by doing good works, by being kind and helpful and showing love and consideration toward others. We shine by living a good life and by telling others about what Jesus Christ did for us. As we live this way, we grow more very special in God's sight. The Apostle Paul said that Christians are all children of and more like Jesus, our Master.

Peter wrote to Christians by inspiration of God, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light" (1 Peter 2:9, NIV). So praise the Lord and live in "Son-shine!" +

Copyright Muriel Larson