The Light for Everyone 27th December Read: Acts 13:44-49 “For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’” Acts 13:47 (NIV)
I lead a KYB (Know Your Bible) group in our church. During term two we were studying about ‘Jesus of Nazareth, God and Man’. It was eye-opening to not just me but the entire group, all the prophecies that have been told about Jesus that are now fulfilled with His coming to earth as a human. One of them is the above, with Paul and Barnabas quoting Simeon, prophesising about Jesus when he was 40 days old: this child will be “…a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” (Luke 2:32) Jesus came first and foremost to the Jews, the people of Israel, to lead them to knowing their God and His Son Jesus, to bring them all salvation. But, the Jews (people of Israel) rejected Jesus, and put Him to death on the cross.
They didn’t believe that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God who had come into the world to deliver everyone from their sins. Orthodox Jews are still waiting for their Messiah to come. When the Jews rejected Jesus, the above prophecy came true, that Jesus was coming to deliver all people (the Gentiles – non-Jews) from darkness leading them into the light of God’s forgiveness and love bringing them salvation. God’s love and forgiveness is for everyone and God desires, “…all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
(1 Timothy 2:4 NIV) Even when Paul and Barnabas were speaking to the Jews in Antioch, the Jews were filled with jealousy that he had so many listening to him. They were also rude and abusive. Others who were there listening (Gentiles) were glad to know that God is a God for all and they honoured the Word of God. There will always be those who reject the Word of God, but don’t let that stop you from talking to people about the light of Christ that has come into your life. To become a Christian, one must first hear about Jesus! Prayer: Lord Jesus, you are the light that has come into the world to bring all people to know your love and receive eternal life. Guide me to share your Gospel freely to others from all walks of life. Amen
Children of the Light 26th December Read: John 12:35-36 Jesus said: “Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” John 12:36a (NIV-UK)
Light. We are fascinated with it, captivated by sunlight coming through tree branches, wonder at the light of the rainbow after a storm, marvel at the flashes of lightning that light up the sky, and lie out under the stars that twinkle at night. God has given us so many natural lights to enjoy and to use to see the world around us. God has also given us the talents to make light: fire, electric lights, neon lights, fireworks, and LED lights. What does it mean when Jesus said He wants us to “…become children of light”? Light is the absence of darkness.
So, where there is light, there is no darkness. There are so many references in the Bible to light and darkness: Genesis 1:3-5; John 1:5; Ephesians 5:8 and 1 John 1:5, are a just a couple you may want to look up. The Bible uses the light and darkness as powerful metaphors to represent good and evil, truth and falsehood and when God is present and when He is absent. Jesus came into the world at Christmas bringing light to everyone. This light brought the love, grace, peace and forgiveness of a loving God. No longer would people have to wander around being concerned about their salvation. With Jesus in our lives, our hope and futures are assured. Jesus has brought the light of God to the world – the goodness and forgiveness from all wrongdoings. He now wants us to live as “…children of light”, living in the presence of a loving God. Living in darkness is to be living in a world without the love, light and forgiveness of God.
I don’t want to live like that. It is up to us to share this light with those who are in darkness, to shed hope and the gift of grace and love with those who live without hope. Be God’s children of light in a darkened world. Jesus has come into the world bringing light and love at Christmas. Live as children of the light! Prayer: Loving Father, you brought light into the darkened world when you sent your son Jesus at Christmas. Help me to live every day in this light and shine it into other people’s darkened lives. Amen.
Jesus is the Light Christmas Day Read: John 9:4-5 Jesus said: “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9:5 (NIV)
Once upon a time, in a land shrouded in winter’s darkness, there lived a young boy named Elias. His village was preparing for the annual Festival of Lights, a celebration of the longest night of the year, when the sun would begin its return. Elias, however, felt a deep sadness. His family had recently suffered a loss, and the festive lights seemed to mock his grief. One evening, as the first stars began to appear, Elias wandered away from the village. He found himself at the edge of a dark forest, feeling utterly alone. Suddenly, he noticed a faint light flickering in the distance. Following the light, he discovered a small, humble cottage. An old woman with kind eyes sat beside a crackling fire, her face illuminated by the flames.
“Why are you so sad, child?” she asked gently. Elias explained his sorrow. The old woman listened patiently, then smiled. “The lights of the Festival of Lights are meant to remind us that even in the darkest times, there is always a light within us, and there is always a light to guide us.” She pointed to the fire, then to the star-filled sky. “Just as those lights shine, so does the hope and love that God offers us.” She then told him the Christmas story: how the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, how she gave birth to Jesus, the Light of the World, in a stable, and how the star led the Wise Men to Bethlehem. She explained that Jesus’ birth brought hope and forgiveness, a light to guide people out of darkness and despair. When Elias returned to the village, he saw the lights in a new way. He joined in the festivities, sharing the story of Jesus’ birth with others and encouraging them to look for the light of Jesus coming to the world.
Elias now understood that Christmas wasn’t just about the lights that adorned the village, but about the light of God’s love, hope, and peace that shone within his heart. Bring the light of Jesus to someone’s life today! Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to share the story of Christmas bringing light and hope to other’s lives. Shine your light in my life that others may see you. Amen.
Light of Life Christmas Eve Read: John 8:12-16 “Jesus said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” John 8:12 (NIV)
What an amazing promise by Jesus. Today is Christmas Eve and I am sure there is much preparation going on in your home. Some may be finishing work for a week or two to have time off over Christmas/New Year. Children would have finished school earlier, and I am sure that there is much excitement and anticipation for the Christmas dinner, the gifts, the family time. What a joy Christmas is to families whether Christian or not. However, the biggest difference is in knowing Jesus, His love, the hope of a future and the promises that come at the birth of Jesus. Christmas takes on a greater meaning and importance knowing Jesus. Isaiah foretold the coming Christ-child who would be born 700 years later, but described Him as “…Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Through different writers in the Bible, Jesus was also called: Immanuel, Messiah, Saviour, Good Shepherd, Bread of Life and in the passage above Jesus describes Himself as, “…the Light of the World.” To unpack each of these descriptions would make this devotion pages longer, but what we do need to know is that this little baby sent by God planned this from the beginning of time for the world’s salvation.
Jesus is God’s Son who was sent into the world to bring light to people’s lives in giving them the promise of an eternal future. Tonight, as you celebrate with family, make sharing with them the promised Saviour of the world a part of your celebrations. If you cannot go to celebrate with the local congregation, have your own little service by reading the story of the birth of Jesus from a Bible, maybe a child’s Bible.
Set up a nativity display and have the children make the scene as it is being read. Play a few Christmas carols and sing them as a family (perhaps some can play them on instruments). Light candles and share how God’s light has come into the world through Jesus. With Jesus there is no darkness! Prayer: My Saviour Jesus, the Light of the World, enter my heart this night and help me to share with family and friends the promise given with the birth of Jesus. You are my light and my life. Amen.
Living in the Light 4th Tuesday in Advent Read: John 3:16-21 “Whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.” John 3:21 (NIV-UK)
On a cold day, a hot cup of Milo warms the body and in summer on a hot day, a cold glass of milk and Milo goes down well. How many of you have eaten Milo by just taking spoonfuls out of the tin? I developed quite a taste for the dry Milo when I was a child. So, I used to sneak into the kitchen and fill a glass with the dry Milo and then go and hide under my sister’s couch in her room.
Looking back now, I am sure my mother knew that someone was eating the Milo, but she never commented. But one day I confessed to my mum what I had been doing. She didn’t growl or scold but gave me a hug and said if I wanted some don’t go and hide, just eat it at the table. I never did take any more! Even as a small child I knew I was doing wrong and went and hid. There were other people in the Bible who also went and hid when they did wrong: Adam & Eve, Jonah and Elijah. Adam and Eve hid in the garden, Jonah got on a ship to sail away from God, and Elijah went and hid in a cave.
Do we really think that our hiding is getting away from God? I know that God saw me hiding under the couch, but He convicted me to bring my wrong into the light and I was forgiven. God doesn’t want us to hide from Him, but to do everything in the light. Things that we do that are right and good in God’s eyes brings glory to God. Do your work colleagues, neighbours, friends, know that you are a Christian and like to go to church? Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, be open, share the Good News of the coming Saviour of the world and invite others to join you in worship.
You may be surprised at the reactions and maybe someone will want to join you. Be open, be bold, live in God’s Light! Prayer: Thank you, Lord Jesus, for coming to me this Christmas and helping me be a light to those around me. Let my Christian light shine out brightly that others may be attracted to it. Amen.
God’s Chemical Reaction 4th Monday in Advent Read: John 1:1-9 “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.” John 1:9 (NIV-UK)
A chemistry professor at a major university tells the story of a young girl who wished to make some potassium hydroxide solution. She decided to throw a large lump of potassium into a bucket of water. The professor, glancing in her direction, saw what she was about to do and hurried towards her. “What are you doing?” he asked. She explained, and then he told her to stir the water in the bucket for five minutes before adding the potassium. “Professor,” she asked with a questioning tone, “why stir the water and why must I do it for five minutes?” The professor replied, “It will give me time to get out of the building.” Some people can anticipate an event without knowing what will happen, others with knowledge can know what is coming and react accordingly.
The same is true with the coming of Jesus at Christmas. It had been foretold throughout the Old Testament that God would be sending a Saviour, a Messiah to bring peace and love to the world. Still when Jesus did come, many did not believe. Jesus had come at Christmas to be the Light of the World. On that night in Bethlehem, God sent His light into the world to shine into the hearts of all people.
We learn from the Bible reading that Jesus was the true light. If you put the word ‘Jesus’ wherever ‘Word’ is written in verses 1-5 of John 1… we read that Jesus had been since the very beginning with God. God had planned that Jesus come as a human to bring light and forgiveness to the lives of the human beings God had created. God knew from the beginning the ‘chemical reaction’ that would occur within the Jewish society of the time. He knew that Jesus would rock the world and cause disruption to people’s lives. Does Jesus cause disruption or peace to your life?
May the Christ-child bring you peace and love this Christmas. Allow Jesus to disrupt your life with His presence and light! Prayer: Dear Jesus, your light comes into my life at Christmas to show me the need for a Saviour. Shine your light into all the dark places in my life and show me how I can serve you. Amen
Turn on Your Light 4th Sunday in Advent Read: Luke 15:8-10 “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?” Luke 15:8 (NIV)
‘The Monuments Men’ is a movie based on a true story about a group of art historians, curators and architects who volunteered to join the military to locate, protect and return stolen art and cultural artifacts that had been stolen during the conflict of World War 2 in Europe. These volunteers had many challenges in working behind enemy lines, navigating war-torn Europe and then identifying the lost items to then be returned to their rightful owners. It was a gripping story and watching it one could sense the frustration in these men trying to locate the lost and stolen precious items.
Until they realised that many of these priceless treasures had been stored in old mines, in the darkness. They were hidden to the world until the ‘Monument Men’ turned on the lights and searched carefully until these priceless treasures were found. The analogy that Jesus makes with the joy that a person has when they discover something that was lost – the lost coin; really can in no way compare to the joy in heaven when one of God’s beloved children turns from the darkness into the light of Jesus. God never gives up on any of His children – He wants all to be saved and live with Him for eternity in Heaven. For this to happen, we as Jesus’ disciples need to share the light of God’s love to each of these people, that they may see the gifts of grace that God offers and leave it to the Holy Spirit to do his work. What a terrific task we have been sent on! To go into the dark places, to search high and low for the lost to be found by Jesus and His love.
Live your daily life with the Holy Spirit guiding and prompting to share when appropriate and as such be the light for others to find their way to the arms of God. God never gives up and neither should we. Invite someone to your Christmas service and begin a conversation. Pray without ceasing and reflect God’s unconditional love. Prayer: Heavenly Father, what joy in heaven there will be when all the lost come to you. Help me to be a light to the lost for them to f ind their way to you. Amen
Eyes Are Lamps 3rd Saturday in Advent Read: Luke 11:33-36 “Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light.” Luke 11:34a (NIV)
I recently went to an optometrist to have my eyes checked. I hadn’t been for two years but thought that since I could still see clearly with the glasses I had, I didn’t need to get new glasses. Well, I was wrong. I could still see well, but I could see better! With new glasses, I would decrease the strain my eyes and allow myself to see things more clearly. I like the analogy that Jesus gave His disciples of the eye being a lamp of the body. The clearer we see things the better the body functions with the knowledge given. Shakespeare wrote: ‘eyes are windows to the soul’.
The meaning of this phrase is that a person’s eyes, when observed closely, can reveal their true intentions, feelings, personality and even motivations. While I don’t necessarily agree that we can understand everything through looking at the eyes, I do believe that what we see and understand and then show in our actions can show God working in our lives. When we f ill our whole selves with all that is good, we act accordingly and show good to others. In the second part of the Bible verse 34b, it goes on to say: “But when they are bad, your body is full of darkness.”
Jesus warns His disciples to make sure that they only fill their lives and eyes with good things so that all they do – actions, thoughts and words, will be completely in the light, just like when a lamp shines on them. Our world is filled with both darkness and light. It is easy while watching the news to concentrate only on the bad that is happening. That evil is reigning and taking over, which makes us question: ‘Where are you God?’ Jesus asks us to fill our lives with Him and all that is good.
We need to share the good happening, to share how God is working in our lives, to promote God’s goodness; in this way we fill our eyes and lives with the light of God so others can see this light. Open your eyes to the good! Prayer: Open my eyes Lord, to the good that you are doing in the world and in my life. Help me to grow this light in my whole self to bring light to other people that they may see you. Amen.
Shine Out Jesus’ Love 3rd Friday in Advent Read: Luke 8:16-18 “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.” Luke 8:16 (NIV-UK)
I have heard many stories of what people did during the lockdowns of COVID-19. One thing that my husband and I had always wanted to do was sort out family photos. Not just photos of our children, but photos of our ancestors. I wanted our children to know who their grandparents, great-grandparents and great-great-grandparents were and where they came from. We set about sorting and then labelling and naming the pictures and finally we put them in an order on the wall in picture frames, for not just our children to see, but anyone who came to visit.
We now have our own ‘Rogue’s Gallery’ of our ancestry down our passage walls. Having the pictures in boxes did nothing to show our family history but having them in frames on the walls showed to all our pride and interest in our family. Jesus, in Luke 8:16 18, was teaching His disciples. As usual, He used parables and illustrations to help. The disciples were wandering with Jesus, hearing His teachings, listening to His knowledge and watching all He did. Jesus now wanted them not to store this knowledge in boxes under the bed or in clay jars, but to openly share what they had learned from the Son of God. In verse 17, we learn that these words of Jesus, through the disciples, will shine out brightly to the whole world.
So, they are to listen carefully and learn as much as they can while Jesus is still with them to be able to share accurately to those for whom they were to minister. In attending church, Bible studies, fellowship groups and anywhere else where God’s Word is taught and preached, we learn with ears to hear Jesus’ love for all. As disciples then we are to shine out brightly with this knowledge and share it wherever possible.
We are not to hide it in boxes or under beds or on the bookshelf but display it proudly for all to see and hear what Jesus and His love means to us. Shine your love for Jesus brightly and display it proudly. Prayer: Jesus, through your Bible and your words I learn what it is you have in store for me. Help me to not keep this Good News to myself but to put it on a stand for all to see. Amen