December 23, 2024

His Light

luke1.78-79adventlightBecause of the tender mercy of our God,
His Light from on high has visited us,
to shine on those who sit in darkness and in death’s shadow,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Luke 1:78-79

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~   ♥   ~   *

His Light. God loved us enough to send us His only begotten Son to guide, teach, and lead us into a life of eternal happiness.  God had never intended for us to suffer and be in agony from our self-imposed guilt and shame.  Faith and trust in Him and in His Word is where our strength lies.

From the beginning of time God was very meticulous in creating our world. He took such care to speak the world into existence just so.  He created the animals, the trees, flowers, the fish, the grass, and the moon and stars.  Every little detail He thought of.  Imagine trying to create a world and thinking of everything—the oxygen, the gravity, the way things stay and grow in the ground.

How can we not be in awe of someone who is as thoughtful as our God?  He created the first man from the dirt of the earth and formed every little thing about him.  I mean, who thinks about the fact you need to blink in order that your eye would not dry out.  I am not sure I would have been so detailed.

If He can be that thoughtful, we should aspire to be there for our friends and family.  Forgiving as we go through life and not waiting for the right time, or until someone else apologizes first.  During this time of year, (and not just now but always), we should be the first to forgive and share the light God has created inside of us.  God knows our heart, He created us, He knew us when we were growing inside of our mothers.

When we were born, we came into the light. We were born into this world for a relationship with God and to tell others about Jesus, His Son, and how God wants us to live forever with Him.

You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.  You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 5:14

Father, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, to teach us about Your love and the good You wish to do for us.  Give us the courage to speak when we need to and be silent when we need to.  We want to share Your love with others…putting ourselves aside and loving those close to us with an unconditional love.  Thank You for Your blessings.  In Jesus’s name, Amen.

His Light

luke1.78-79adventlight

Because of the tender mercy of our God,
His Light from on high has visited us,
to shine on those who sit in darkness and in death’s shadow,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Luke 1:78-79

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

There it was—the true Light
[the genuine, perfect, steadfast Light] which,
coming into the world, enlightens everyone
John 1:9 AMP

We all know the Christmas story…Heaven comes to earth in the form of an infant to die on the Cross in order to provide eternal life to us. That’s sounds so cold and clinical.  And trite.  But, sometimes, that’s how we think about it – “Yeah, yeah I’ve heard all this before.  I got it.” It’s not that it isn’t important to us, but we have just lost some of our passion, our awe, our sense of wonder and amazement.  Today, let’s look a little closer, dig a little deeper and see what we find….

So, why did Christ come? The answer is found in Acts 26:18.

“…to open their [spiritual] eyes
so that they may turn from darkness to light
and from the power of Satan to God,
that they may receive forgiveness and release from their sins
and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified
(set apart, made holy) by faith in Me.”

He came to open our eyes!
He came to illuminate the dark!

Isaiah 9:2 AMP talks about this same Light…

The people who walk in [spiritual] darkness will see a great Light;
Those who live in the dark land, the Light will shine on them.

Without God’s tender mercy and compassion for us, without the Christmas story, we would STILL be walking in darkness.  We would be unaware we were under the influence and power of Satan.

Selah – stop and think about that for a moment.  Imagine what your life might be like without His Light shining on you!?!  The most obvious answer is we would have no inheritance, no eternal life. But consider your day-to-day life.  There would be…

  • no source of comfort or healing…
  • no refuge from the storms and struggles of life…
  • no guidance when we are lost…
  • no peace when we are anxious and fearful…
  • no Light to illuminate our path…
  • no release from the bondage of sin…
  • no One to love us unconditionally, or to provide us with strength when have none, or be our joy when life is at its bleakest.

Peek into that manger once again. Do you see what John was talking about? Ahhh, there it is—

the true Light [the genuine, perfect, steadfast Light]
which, coming into the world, enlightens everyone
John 1:9 AMP

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Father God, please never let me lose the sense of wonder, the awe, and amazement of what You did for me in that tiny manger in Bethlehem. I cannot image life without His Light shining on me. This Christmas let me be filled with such joy as I remember all You have done for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen – so be it!