3rd Tuesday in Advent Read: Micah 7:7-9 “Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.” Micah 7:8b (NIV)

‘The Hare boasts to the other animals about how fast he can run. He challenges them to a race and when none of them responds he taunts them that they are too scared even to try. When the Tortoise offers to race the Hare scoffs that he won’t waste his time racing the slowest creature in the world. Some of the animals laugh at this so the Hare agrees to a race. The Tortoise spends the week in training but continues to move very slowly and the other animals wonder if the race is a good idea. Nevertheless, there is a large crowd of animals gathered on the day of the race.’

‘The race starts and the Hare roars off. When he stops to look back, the Tortoise has barely crossed the starting line. The Hare taunts the Tortoise and decides to have a nap in the sun; he sleeps for so long that the Tortoise is able to overtake him. The animals cheer as the Tortoise nears the finishing tree and this wakes up the Hare. The Hare runs as fast as he can to catch up, but the Tortoise just makes it over the finish line in time. Sometimes slow and steady wins the race.’ This is one of Aesop’s fables which was believed to have been written during the 6th century BCE.

The fables were written to convey moral lessons. We can also apply this to God’s teachings. The world is fast paced and brags that it can supply everything that we need for a good life: gym membership, money, big house, e-bike, Tesla, etc. God offers the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control and eternal life in Heaven with a loving Saviour. God never rests. If we fall, He will help us up; if we are in a state of darkness and despair, God will be the light to bring relief to our souls. Let God who is our light and life be the steady influence in your life.

God’s way is the only way to win in the race of life! Prayer: Loving Lord, you are my light and life and in you I place all that I am and all that I have. May I always rely on you for everything I need for this life and beyond. Amen.

Revealer of Mysteries Read: Daniel 2:19-23 “He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.” Daniel 2:22 (NIV)

If you have never read about King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, I would encourage you to read the whole of chapter 2 of Daniel. In a nutshell: King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream and wanted it to be interpreted by his wise men and magicians, but rather than tell them the dream to interpret, he wanted them to tell him the dream. These wise men were meant to be in touch with the gods to be able to interpret. But they couldn’t. So, all the wise men in the kingdom were to be executed and cut in pieces – Daniel and his friends were included. Daniel prayed to the true God of Heaven for mercy and wisdom concerning the mystery and God came through for Daniel. Daniel praised and thanked God for His wisdom and for helping him and his friends.

“He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.” (verse 22) Daniel then went to the King and told him the dream where there was a large statue made of many metals: head of gold, chest and arms of silver, belly and thighs of bronze, legs of iron and feet of iron and clay. This statue is destroyed by a stone that is not made of human hands and that becomes a mountain. Daniel then tells the King the meaning. The worldly empires (the statue) will rise and fall over generations until the ultimate establishment of God’s eternal Kingdom (the stone becoming a mountain).

Only the God of Heaven has any ability to reveal mysteries. “The king said to Daniel, ‘Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.’” (verse 47) Throughout the Bible stories God shows His power that He is greater and stronger than anything or any other god. Only the light of goodness comes from Him. What an amazing God we have! Trust in the God of Heaven and earth – He knows everything! Prayer: God of wonder and light, thank you for revealing yourself to me as a God of love and light. Continue to work in and through me that others will be able to see your majesty. Amen

God’s Lighthouse 3rd Sunday in Advent Read: Isaiah 60:1-3 “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.” Isaiah 60:1 (NIV)

For a couple years, while I was in my 20’s, I took up sailing as a pastime when a friend invited me as a crew member on a 44-foot yacht. We sailed every Sunday from Outer Harbour – sometimes in races, sometimes for pleasure and other times to hone our skills for racing. One weekend we went on an overnighter to Yorke Peninsula. I remember waking one night for my turn at watch and the person at the helm asked me to take over. There was no moon and no stars because of cloud cover, and I asked about where I steer to and take my bearings?

Off in the far distance was a small pinprick of light, a lighthouse. I was told to keep the bow of the ship pointed to that light. The purpose of a lighthouse is to be the unchanging light for ships to steer and be guided by. They are also a warning, telling of rocks and land. This lighthouse guided us safely through the night. God’s glory similarly shines out bright and strong showing us the right way to go and guiding us through dangers. This glory of God is not just a physical light, but it is also the reflection of God’s love, character and His truth. When we are out in life like a ship without any light to be guided by, God’s lighthouse shines out bright and strong leading us and others to the hope and salvation found in Jesus Christ.

We are called to ‘arise and shine’, to live actively in God’s light to draw and share that light with others. It is an attractive light that draws people to God, just as ships are drawn to a lighthouse. In verse 3 the passage talks about nations coming to the light. God’s plan is for the salvation of everyone.

The glory of God shines in and through our lives. Be a beacon of God’s love this Advent season and bring a friend into God’s light. Shine out brightly for others to see God’s love through who you are! Prayer: My glorious God, thank you for shining out brightly into my life and for guiding me through difficult times. Help me to also be that beacon of hope for others to see you at work through me. Amen