I love sparkly things. So, it’s pretty safe to assume that I get excited when we get all the Christmas lights up around our house. Light is very significant. It’s one of the first things that God created in Genesis. He was about to make a beautiful world, and he knew he needed light for it to be seen.
Beauty doesn’t shine in the dark.
But light can bring beauty in darkness.
I can’t help but think about light at Christmas. Not just the pretty ones on my tree… but the TRUE light. This week I was reading in the book of John, and I read the following passage over and over again:
John 1:9-14
The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
The part of this passage that has resonated in my heart is, “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.” Light came for you. Light came for me. Not light that will burn out or fade. Light that illuminates with power. Everlasting.
Light Shines Bright
I’ll be honest though, sometimes lately the light around me feels dim. The hate we see in our world, it’s trying to put it out. It’s coming on strong, it causes me to fear. Can I be the city on the hill? Can my light face the dark?
Then I remember what came out of the darkness when the world began. God-spoken light. And later, a baby who carried that light.
I have that light. I invited it in. I received it.
Jesus.
In times of darkness He shines through us as we serve, as we accept each other, as we open our arms in welcome, as we speak words of love, as we live out kindness, as we work together, as we respect and as we hope for His presence to flow in our world. He came for reason, not just a season.
Light Shines Bright.
Darkness won’t win.
We’ve seen his Glory.
Be a carrier of Light.
His light,
Shines bright.