The elders in my community always told the young children, “Make hay while the sun shines”—even though we had no idea how to make hay. Another more applicable saying was, “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.” When we think of today, we might think of the twenty-four hours that make a day or the time between the sun’s rising and setting. 

As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. In today’s verse, we read about Jesus healing a blind man and the discourse that followed. Jesus told His disciples to do the works of God, who sent Jesus.

Jesus knew that His time on earth was shortened, so He did good as He went about His day. His injunction to His disciples is one for us. We, too, have a day. We should not think of this in terms of hours but as a period that God has given to us to do His good works. We never know when night will come. The metaphorical day is the now in our lives. It is our opportunity to share God’s Word, to be His ambassadors, and, as Jesus says, to be light.

As God’s light, we must shine. Jesus has sent us into the world with a mission to spread the gospel. As we work to make disciples of others, we should follow Jesus’ example by showing love through healing, feeding, admonishing, encouraging, and forgiving.

Showing love comes in many forms. Seize the day and work now. God doesn’t promise us a tomorrow.

Norma Williams

Norma E. Williams is married and has three adult daughters. She is an educator and an ordained minister who serves in her local church. She is a graduate of Church Teachers’ College in Jamaica, Brooklyn College, and New York Theological Seminary. She lives by her high school motto, Sic Luceat Lux, and has a passion for leading others to Christ. She is an avid reader who loves to write.