"That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world."
John 1:9 Unlike the other authors of the Gospel, John wrote about the deeper meaning of what Jesus had said and done. John had seen Christ. He’d walked with him, talked with him, and witnessed the light in the darkness that he was. Rather than recount events, John wrote a genuine reflection that told us the truth about Christ—that he was the one true light. John recognized that Christ came to serve as a light in a world darkened by pain, sin, and hate. More than that, he came to give us hope for the future. The people had heard the words of the prophets and had witnessed the miracles that God had worked for their ancestors, but how could they truly understand the nature of God? God spoke to us in the only way we could truly understand—by becoming one of us. Christ became flesh to dwell among us so that we could see him as a light—an example of how we should live, act, and serve in our own lives. Likewise, Christ came to give us a light of our own and make us beacons in the darkness for those around us. As the Christmas season nears, we’ll see plenty of lights. There will be stars on top of trees, lights draped across yards, and even parades of beautiful light displays for us to marvel at. However, whenever we see those lights shining brightly, let’s remember our duty as children of God. Rather than just admire the lights around us, let’s put ourselves on display as the brightest and most beautiful lights of all—lights of Christ. REFLECTChrist came to bring us eternal light so that we may be light in a dark world. RESPOND Who serves as a light in your own life? In what way can we become a light in a dark place in our neighborhoods, communities, or cities?
0 Comments
"O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth."
Isaiah 25:1 Isaiah was an eloquent prophet whose words speak to us today, just as he spoke to Judah. Isaiah had an optimistic outlook for the future. He knew that God had greater plans and envisioned God’s promises of a world without pain or regret and he faithfully relayed this message of hope through his words. There are times in our lives when it feels as if God has abandoned us. We find ourselves in difficult situations and get caught in a spiritual slump. What once felt like a time of perfect peace crumbles to chaos as we wonder if he even hears our cries or cares about our hurt. However, Isaiah offers a message of hope: trust God with the future and everything will fall into place. God acts in perfect faithfulness and works in perfect timing. He has planned marvelous things for our lives, although we can only see each piece of his plan revealed in real time. We don’t know what things he has in store for our future and when we get caught up in trying to control what he has already planned for us, we create a mess. God had plans for Mary’s life that stretched far beyond anything she could’ve imagined. A young virgin, she probably didn’t picture herself giving birth to a child anytime soon— not to mention the Son of God. However, Mary accepted God’s plan for her life and faithfully followed the path he’d planned for her. As we continue our journey as children of God, let’s maintain a hopeful spirit looking on towards a future full of things so marvelous that we can’t imagine it. God works every day in our lives and holds our past, present, and future in his hands. Let it go, let it be, and let God work. REFLECTGod is constantly working to reveal his marvelous plans for our lives and we must trust in his perfect timing. RESPOND
"Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." Matthew 1:23
There are many exciting things that come along with pregnancy—celebrating with friends and family, discovering the sex of the child, and picking a meaningful name for the child. For Mary, the naming part was already taken care of. She would give birth to a baby boy and he would be called Immanuel: God with us. God with us. What a concept. No matter where we go, God is with us. No matter how seemingly far we fall, God is with us. No matter how deep into despair we feel, God is with us. In times of great joy or times of insurmountable grief, God is with us. Why is he with us? Because he loves us. He loves us and there is nowhere else he wants to be than right at our side. There’s no place too far or wide, too high or low, that the love and grace of God cannot reach us. It’s as simple as that. Christmas is a special time where we gather with family and friends and reflect on everything that has happened that year. The holiday season is not only a time where we look back on the past; we also look forward towards the future. This Christmas, let’s reflect on the times God has met us with grace over the past year, and look forward to receiving his love and being more aware of his constant presence as we walk through our daily lives. REFLECTGod loves us and is with us no matter where we go. RESPOND Are there times in your life when you have felt the overwhelming presence of God? How can you find time in your schedule to feel the presence of God? "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."
Psalm 118:105 Christmas might be very different this year. Maybe it’s your first year as a married couple or with a little one. Or maybe you have no choice but to alter your traditions because the one who used to put up the lights or bake the chocolate chip cookies is no longer there. Maybe you live somewhere new, away from family and friends. Transition, even for the good, can leave us feeling unsure and unanchored. Sometimes we don’t know where to start, or which way to go. In Psalm 119, God’s Word is described as a lamp to our feet. In moving forward, we can expect only our next few steps to be lit. Why at our feet? Why not on a series of poles to light up the road for several miles? Why not literally have it lit up like a Christmas tree? Wouldn’t that be better? Safer? So we can see where we’re going? Yet relying on God’s guidance every step of the way helps build our faith and trust in him. Once we believe Christ is who he says he is, and accept him into our hearts, we step onto this path. If we let him, he will help us form new habits and traditions, and renew our purpose. He may not change the circumstances as we’d like, but we will never walk alone. Although Christ is changing us, we can rely on him to be the same yesterday and today and forever. REFLECTTake time to pinpoint what is keeping you from moving forward. RESPOND What do you want to change in your life? What steps of faith have you taken? Consider setting a reminder for yourself every day to use prayer and God’s Word to help you through times of transition. "That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life."
Titu 3:7 Do we use all the resources God has made available to us? As heirs of the Kingdom, we have access to the vast power and protection of Christ. Yet we may only be tapping the surface. It’s easy—especially at Christmastime—to keep Jesus in the cradle as a vulnerable baby with bad guys like Herod chasing him, and God protecting him. But he is also an invincible warrior King, set to return in glory to create his eternal kingdom here on earth. We have access to this aspect of Christ, as well—and that includes the family armor. In Ephesians 6, we are told to fasten the belt of truth, put on the breastplate of righteousness and shoes to proclaim the gospel of peace. We are to take up the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and sword of the Spirit (the Word of God). But do we bother to armor up every day? Or do we go out half-dressed? Sadly, we need to defend against our “me-centric” world, and what it says we are entitled to have and want. In First Samuel 18:4–5, Jonathan willingly gives up his right as earthly heir to the kingdom of Israel under his father King Saul, in favor of David. “Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, including his sword and his bow and his belt.” Jonathan recognized David as God’s choice. He chose to use his armor in service to David. Compare Jonathan’s reaction to King Herod’s. Herod tried to kill Jesus. But he was fighting not simply a baby, but the King of kings. REFLECTReally consider how you picture Christ. RESPOND
"And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years." Luke 1:18
Are you ever afraid to hope? Have you ever wanted something so much that when it looked like it might actually happen, you found reasons to doubt? Zechariah and Elizabeth waited a long time, hoping and praying to have children. But as the years passed and they grew old, it seemed not to be. Yet the day Zechariah entered God’s sanctuary to offer incense as part of his priestly duties, the angel Gabriel appeared to him, saying Zechariah’s future son would be great in the eyes of the Lord. His son would be John the Baptist—the forerunner of Christ. This is where Zechariah gets in trouble. He asks how he would know for sure all this was true. It’s not hard to picture Gabriel crooking an eyebrow, saying, “And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at the appointed time.” When we’re hurt or deeply disappointed, our natural reaction might be to push away hope, and keep our expectations low. But God repeatedly shows that he takes care of his own, and does immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine. Zechariah was blessed with a son beyond any he could have imagined—surpassed only by Christ himself. When asked what his son’s name would be, Zechariah wrote, “His name is John.” With his renewed certainty and faith, his voice returned. REFLECTConsider what you’re hoping for this season, and whether you’re setting your expectations low. RESPOND
Devotional
"The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints," (Ephesians 1:18) The Christmas tree has gaps and it’s too short. There isn’t enough room in the oven for everything, and someone who means a great deal to us isn’t coming. This is not how we imagined the holiday. Sometimes, we become so focused on how we think things should be—how the perfect Norman Rockwell Christmas will solve so many problems—that we fail to recognize or appreciate the incredible blessing of what is. The nation of Israel had a very specific idea of how the Messiah would come. They were so focused on Christ coming as a warrior to rescue them that many didn’t recognize their long-awaited Savior when he actually arrived. Why? He came into this world in the humblest of ways—in a manger surrounded by work animals. He had no need of pomp and circumstance. His idea of what was most important was to pay for our sins and save us through his grace. Christ’s return in glory—when every knee will bow—is yet to come. It will happen in his perfect timing, as part of his perfect plan. For now, let’s try to surrender our plans to him and recognize the blessings he places in front of us. Look again. Maybe that squat tree is decorated with ornaments that tell a story of your family. Was the unplanned casserole taking up limited space made with the help of little hands? (A little eggshell never hurt anyone.) And those faces around your table? Maybe they might have been overlooked and overshadowed had your attention been focused elsewhere. Although God’s plan may not match our own, it could not be more perfect. REFLECT Determine the areas of your life you are reluctant to surrender to God. RESPOND
|
AuthorEsther Lee JD Archives
November 2017
Categories |