September 22, 2025

Luke 8:16-18

Jesus was the Light, the Son of God. He spent time in prayer, but did he stay there dwelling in the heavenly realms? No, he took his Light forth into the messy, grubby, tiresome world, the world of pain, poverty, illness, and desperation. He met people face to face where they were. He did not try to start a political revolution, even though that was imputed to him. Instead, he healed and taught each person, one by one, on the spot where he was. He fed the thousands on the plain where he was because he saw they were hungry, but did not change the system. One by one, he taught them and healed one person at a time. He did not consider this to be too time-consuming or not efficient enough.

We have much to learn from the example Jesus gave us, the model of helping one person at a time, whoever is in front of us, whoever seems to need it. Though he only healed one person at a time or taught one crowd at a time, his example reverberated across the known world and down through the centuries. Is this not enough of an impact?

If we are not able to bring about a just government, do not despair. Simply help one person or group at a time, whoever is before you, and in this way shine your light.