Scripture Verse

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

Introduction

portrait
Susan B. Warner (1819–1885)

Words: Su­san B. Warn­er, in the child­ren’s ma­ga­zine The Lit­tle Cor­por­al (Chi­ca­go, Il­li­nois: 1868). Cre­at­ed at the end of the Am­er­ican ci­vil war, this ma­ga­zine used a mi­li­ta­ry me­ta­phor, en­cour­ag­ing child­ren to fight against wrong, and for the good, the true, and the beau­ti­ful.

Music: Ed­win O. Ex­cell (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

portrait
Edwin O. Excell (1851–1921)

Sunday schools want­ing to use this song with more mo­dern word­ing might try a first line of Je­sus says to shine…

Lyrics

Jesus bids us shine with a pure, clear light,
Like a lit­tle candle burn­ing in the night.
In this world of dark­ness so let us shine—
You in your small cor­ner, and I in mine.

Jesus bids us shine, first of all for Him;
Well He sees and knows it, if our light grows dim.
He looks down from Hea­ven to see us shine—
You in your small cor­ner, and I in mine.

Jesus bids us shine, then, for all around;
Many kinds of dark­ness in the world are found—
Sin and want and sor­row; so we must shine—
You in your small cor­ner, and I in mine.

Jesus bids us shine, as we work for Him,
Bringing those that wan­der from the paths of sin;
He will ev­er help us, if we shine,
You in your small cor­ner, and I in mine.