Page 21 - Living Light - A Message of Joy!

Friday December 22 - Emmanuel – God with us The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. John 1:14
My husband Lyndon keeps an aquarium. He regularly feeds his fish, checking all is well, but at his approach they dart away in fear, completely misunderstanding his loving attention! The only way to get them to accept him as a benefactor and friend would be to become a fish himself, to swim among them and communicate in their language. I am not keen on this idea, even if it was possible!
The only way that God could renew a relationship with human beings, who were alienated from him by sin, was to become human himself. This is what Christmas is all about! ‘Christ Jesus: who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross!’ (Philippians 2:5-8).
God’s Son was born in that lowly stable, 100% a human being. He lived a perfect life, spending himself to serve others, and giving himself up as a sacrifice for sin. There is no Christmas without Easter, no miracle birth without the horror of crucifixion, followed by the wonder of resurrection. And one day Jesus will return, appearing in his glorified human form but this time displaying the majesty of his heavenly nature!
Jesus, our Emmanuel, thank you for your willingness to become one of us. Amen.
Sat December 23 - Goodness, grace and glory!
We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from
the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14
For three extraordinary years the twelve disciples experienced the wonderful miracles, teaching and loving kindness of their friend Jesus. They met him after the resurrection, when he looked so different, and watched him depart into heaven at his ascension. But I think this verse especially refers to a particular incident – Christ’s transfiguration. John, with Peter and James, was there on the mountain when this happened, as Jesus’ appearance radiantly transformed before their eyes, so that ‘his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light’ (Matthew 17:2). They sure ‘saw his glory’! – a glimpse of what Jesus looked like before he came to save us and how he will appear on the day we meet him. Later, John also saw another glorious vision of him (Revelation 1:13-18).
There is so much glory about Jesus! His beauty, truth, power, majesty, authority, perfection, justice... the list is endless! Colossians 1:15 says Christ ‘is the visible image of the invisible God’ and Hebrews 1:1-3 describes the Word of God, ‘his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world... the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature.’ Jesus came as a helpless babe into a world that didn’t even acknowledge him – but when he returns every one of us will worship at his feet!
Glorious Son of God! As we celebrate your birth this Christmas, please grant to us a glimpse of your glory! Amen.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
PRAYER FOR TODAY
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