Light of the World

                                “You are the light of the world. ...let your light shine before others,
                               that they may see your good deeds and glorify your father in heaven.
                                                            (Matthew 5:14, 16, NIV)

The fiber optic Christmas tree is one of the newest, neatest looking Christmas trees that have been produced. Rather than lights being hung on the tree’s branches, the light source is inside the tree. The light illuminates the fiber optics from within the branches, which produces a shimmering light at their ends that looks almost supernatural. The first time I saw one of those I couldn’t help but think how beautifully it illustrates the words of Jesus, “You are the light of the world.” Jesus is our light source and He lives within us. Our life serves as a means for the light of Christ to shine through us so that all may experience the shining light of Christ.

Perhaps at no other time in the year besides Christmas do Christians have a chance to shine in the darkness more clearly and beautifully. There are people all around us – where we live, where we work, where we go to school – who don’t really understand what Christmas is about.

They may connect Christmas with the baby Jesus born in a manger, but they don’t connect what happened then to what’s happening now, or what’s happening in their lives. For many, Jesus’ birth has little or nothing to with how they live, or how they die.

Christmas is your time to shine. It offers you one of best times to illuminate for people the message about the baby born in Bethlehem. A message of peace with God and peace with one another. A message that he came to give us purpose in life, and hope after death. Your job as a light for the world is to tell and show why He came, and to lead people walking in darkness to the Light of the World that can light up their lives.

That won’t happen by chance. You’ve got to turn on the light of Christ in you by praying regularly and asking God to provide you opportunities to share his light and love with others.

Prayer: O God, as the days of Christmas unfold and the lights of our trees brighten, we cling to the promise of the Light that is coming into the world. Let every heart receive Him and shine forth His light, through Jesus Christ. Amen.

In His Word,
Reverend Dee Dee

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