Page 24 - Living Light 87

Monday December 23 - Light has dawned
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light... Isaiah 9:2
One of the great themes surrounding Christmas is that of darkness and light. It seems to me that, whether we are talking about global events or personal experiences, the darkness seems bleaker and the light brighter at Christmas time. One thing is sure: Christmas evokes a sense of hope, especially when we embrace the promise of God’s word that ‘the people walking in darkness have seen a great light’ and that ‘on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.’
In the midst of his public ministry Jesus declared, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). Dark lives, dark situations, can have their darkness dispelled by the brightening experience of the presence of Jesus. Christmas time has the capacity to re-kindle within us the brightness of hope: ‘Light and life to all he brings, risen with healing in his wings’ say the lyrics of ‘Hark the herald angels sing’.
That hope is not merely produced by the seasonal joys and the colourful baubles; it is centred on Jesus – he is ‘the light of the world’, he is the ‘bright Morning Star’ (Revelation 22:16), he is the ‘radiance of God’s glory’ (Hebrews 1:3). As Victor Hugo says in ‘Les Misérables’, ‘Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.’ This is not blind optimism; this is focused on Jesus, the one who brings hope and turns darkness to light!
Lord, I bring you my darkness; please pour in your light. Amen.
Tuesday December 24 - To us...
To us a child is born; to us a son is given... Isaiah 9:6
“Happy birthday, Charlie!” My grandson is nine today: for him, the Christmas time has extra cause for celebration as he moves from his own birthday to the celebration of Jesus’ birth. Occasionally, some people pay to record the birth of their children in a local or national newspaper. Typically, the wording would read: ‘To David and Hannah, a son: Charlie Thomas.’ The Bible does not say ‘to Joseph and Mary, a son, Jesus’, but ‘to us a child is born, to us a son is given’ (Isaiah 9:6). And when Jesus was born the startled shepherds were told by the angels, “a Saviour has been born to you” (Luke 2:11).
Jesus is a gift to all humankind, not merely the miracle baby for Mary and Joseph. That child grew up in a regular home and when he was conducting his public ministry he was generous enough to count all who trusted and followed him as part of his family: his ‘brother, sister, mother’ etc (Matthew 12:50). Being part of Jesus’ family is an immense privilege, but we necessarily recall that the gift to us is that of a Saviour, who would subsequently die for us, rise again and will one day return in glory to take us home to the Father’s heavenly home. What a family gathering that will be!
Heavenly Father, thank you for the privilege of being in your family and for the gift of your Son. Amen.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
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PRAYER FOR TODAY