God’s Light
I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel! Luke 2:30-32, NLT
I’ve always enjoyed Christmas programs that re-enact the birth of Jesus. Often the scenario is one of great anticipation. Auditorium lights are turned off while the audience waits faithfully for the darkness to be pierced by bright light and an awesome scene. Some have waited for hours, having even arrived early in order to get just the right seat and best view of the event. Finally the moment arrives and a hush falls over the crowd. Shadowed outlines of participants in the nativity scene emerge in the darkness.
But that’s not what the people are waiting for. A few more minutes, and then, you see it—awe-inspiring, mesmerizing, bright light! The light is focused on the most important person in the nativity scene—the baby Jesus! The crowd oohs and aahs with delight and approval at the wonder before them. He is the one that people came and waited in the darkness to see, the one that brought them out of the darkness and into the light.
Today’s Dose contains words spoken by a godly Jewish man named Simeon. He waited for years, faithfully believing God’s promise that he’d see the newborn baby Jesus before he died. (Luke 2:25-29) After Simeon held the baby in his arms he exclaimed, I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. Luke 2: 30-31
As the program light revealed the baby in the manger to the audience, God has revealed His Gift of salvation to us through the light of His son, Jesus Christ.
Just as the light in the auditorium was bright enough for all the audience to see the baby in the manger, God’s light, Jesus Christ, is bright enough to reach to all the people in the world, Jews and non-Jews. Simeon faithfully believed that God’s light could pierce anyone’s darkness. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel! Luke 2:32
Everyone experiences periods of darkness in their lives that they’d gladly trade for light and contentment. Maybe you are in that situation right now. Dear one, Jesus is the light that is able and willing to shine down in the midst of your darkness and give you peace. He accepts all those who faithfully believe in him.
Light up your life this Christmas and let Him lead you out of darkness.
God’s riches blessings to you and yours this Christmas,
Rita
Each Christmas, I find myself thinking about Mary, the mother of Jesus. When I was 15, I played the part of Mary in a Christmas play at our church. Since then, I’ve always loved reading her story in the first chapter Luke and thinking about her life.
An unassuming red box with a stick-on silver bow maintains its lonely vigil beneath our Christmas tree. The box is a gift our eldest daughter brought to us several years ago on Thanksgiving Day. Oddly enough, it was empty then and is empty now. Its significant place beneath our tree has since become a holiday tradition.