The Light in the Darkness

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Such simple words but yet so weighty, so meaningful, so powerful, so pregnant with presence and anointing. I pray that we would take a few moments to think about the gift of eternal life given to us through Jesus Christ our Lord.  I pray that we would take a moment to think about the gift of salvation, that God loved us so much that He gave to us 2020 years ago the gift of Jesus Christ, born of Mary in the city of Bethlehem…the city of bread.  He is Christ the Lord, God incarnate, God who is alive, God with flesh on him, he is Christ the Lord.  As we’ve open up the gifts and shared in the traditions of the day, I pray that we would be mindful of the most significant gift that we could ever talk about, celebrate, that is the gift of Jesus Christ, God’s son, born that we might be saved.  When we focus on Jesus Christ, He is the reason for the season and the Light of the world.  How was your Christmas?

It was a very different Christmas for people but the reality is that Jesus Christ still was born the Light of the world and we give God thanks.  That light shines in the midst of darkness and the darkness, change and challenges cannot change it.  The darkness is real, the pain people are feeling is real, bereavement and grief that people are experiencing is real but the light cannot overcome the darkness.  You have to have the light on the inside.  If anyone is alone, let the Lord know how you are feeling.  If your heart is broken or you are tired, let the Lord know.  If you are sad and not feeling the joy, let the Lord know that you are sad and not feeling the joy.  The Lord will help us in those strange, peculiar moments. We are never by ourselves and we can be completely honest with God with what we are feeling.  That even includes family stress and strange moment, let the Lord know.  He is a God that we can talk with and share what we are really feeling.

Jesus has been born and this is the reason for the season. The reality is that ten months of this terrible pandemic cannot snuff out the light of the reality that Jesus Christ was born.  Here we are 2020 years later still testifying and giving praise to God almighty that the angel was right.  A Savior has been born who is Christ the Lord.   Lean into the light because there is so much going on…every two seconds people are dying of this illness. This is a challenging time and I want to encourage you for your own self-care, lean into the light.  If you have grandchildren or young children to be around, play in the snow, drink hot cocoa, paint a picture but lean into the light on your own.   Be encouraged and keep the faith.  Know that you are not by yourself and God is with you.