Thoughts on Christmas "Jesus...Light of the World!"

     "Shepherds were in the fields near Bethlehem. They were taking turns watching their flock during the night.   An angel from the Lord suddenly appeared to them. The glory of the Lord filled the area with light, and they were terrified.   The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid! I have good news for you, a message that will fill everyone with joy.  Today your Savior, Christ the Lord, was born in David’s city.   This is how you will recognize Him: You will find an infant wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.”

     Yes, Christmas is just a few days away, and once again we find ourselves in the midst of celebration:  festive lights, decorations, gift-giving, and savory Christmas meals.  For most of us, this is a joyous time—a time to celebrate Jesus’ birth with family and/or close friends; but for some, possibly even you, it is a time for loneliness, sadness, grief, and/or depression.  So, let’s make a pact!  Let’s pray for one other—we all have stated and unstated needs; but let us also diligently pray for those whom we might not even know—those who have no one to pray for them.  Let us lift them before God’s throne and pray for His loving Spirit to descend upon them, giving them the hope that will fill their lives with the light of Jesus and give reason for celebration.
 
     Following are some of God’s words to remember as we pray--words that speak of Jesus--the light of the world!
 
Isaiah 9:2 and 6-7   “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light.  For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine…For a child is born to us, a son is given to us.  The government will rest on His shoulders, and He will be called:  Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  His government and its peace will never end.  He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of His ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the LORD of Heaven’s armies will make this happen!”   Thank You, Father, for the light of Your Son, Jesus!
 
John 1:1-5   “In the beginning the Word already existed.  The Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He existed in the beginning with God.  God created everything through Him, and nothing was created except through Him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.”  Thank You, Father, for the light of Your Son, Jesus!
 
John 8:12:   “Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”  Thank You, Father, for the light of Your Son, Jesus!
 
     After prayer, let’s relax.  Let’s take an evening drive through neighborhoods lit with truly fantastic Christmas light displays, letting each remind us of the above Bible verses.  As we do so, may God renew in our hearts the true meaning of Christmas, and knowing this, may He then use us to proclaim the truth of His Son to others.  Our message?  The light of the world has come! 

Verses:
 
2 Corinthians 4:5-6  “You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.” 
 
Matthew 5:13-16   “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.   You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.   No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.   In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” 
 
PRAYER:  Father God, as I gaze at Christmas light displays, I think about how they pale in comparison to the light of Your glory!  What was it that the shepherds saw that night Christ was born?  Was Your glory displayed in pure white light, or did it possibly saturate the sky in waves of wondrous colors, even more brilliant that those in the aurora borealis?  Whatever it was, it remains far beyond my imagination—the time of Your joyous announcement that the light of the world had come—the One who would defeat Satan was born!
 
     During this Christmas season, help me dwell on that light, Father!  Cast my eyes upon the center of the nativity scene with my focus on Jesus and on Him alone.  Help me find the words to praise You for Your wondrous plan of LOVE--a love so great that Jesus’ birth was only the beginning of the story of the God Man who would lay down His life for me.  No human words can express my thankfulness for rescuing me from my sin and leading me to life everlasting with You.  I praise you, Almighty God, now and forevermore
 
Disclaimer:  I am just an ordinary woman who loves Jesus, accepting Him as Savior at the age of thirty-two and digging into the Bible ever since.  How could I possibly hope to develop a heart relationship with God and trust Him with my life if I didn't know who He is?!

These devotionals are written to help you journey with Christ and grow in your heart relationship with Him.  However, it is essential that you examine my words, and those of all other "teachers," with God's Holy Word.  Therein lies the source of all truth!