The Light of Christmas
2004 : Week 51  |  Website Version  

Next week’s message will be delayed; we will be away over Christmas. We will get it out as soon as we return. Thank you, and Merry Christmas to all of you…

Christmas is joyous; we feel the power of love and the good will people have towards each other. At least for a season, the world is a better place. It’s wonderful to bask in the warm glow and light of Christmas, and the reason for the light, warmth and caring is Jesus Christ. We celebrate His birthday this time of year, and even the lost cannot contain the joy that spreads over the Earth. Too many Christians love Jesus Christ too much for the world to get in our way at this time. Our celebration of the birth on Jesus sends out waves that ripple throughout the world.

In their hearts, the lost know the Lord exists, but they turn away from Him. Christians are rooted firmly within the protective walls of our fortress Jesus Christ, but the lost look in from the outside. We try to reach those around us to bring them in to the fold, but many don’t understand what goes on within our walls, and many don’t want to understand. In fact, many of them try to tear Jesus down.

Even for the lost, however, this time of year is different. They feel the love that abounds, and even the most anti-Christian people get caught up in the joy of the season. They hear the celebration; they hear the laughter and joy. They don’t understand why we are so happy, but they can see we are happy to celebrate Christ’s birth. Seeing the light of Jesus shining through us impacts them. I think it’s why even the lost can be so Christian like in their charity and kindness this time of year. Without even knowing why or what it all means, they are impacted by our Savior and the celebration of His birthday.

For the faithful, God’s light has is always there to guide us, no matter what the hardship. David, despite all the troubles he had faced, could boldly proclaim that the Lord was always there to make a way,

	29 "For You are my lamp, O LORD; And the LORD illumines my darkness.
	2 Samuel 22:29 (NASB)

David knew that the Lord was ever present in his life, and because of that he was both humbled and took great joy. What peace to have and what confidence to know that the Lord is with us every step of the way. Though David’s circumstances were different then ours, and though it was a different time, David say’s something in 1 Chronicles 17:16 that should be echoed by every Christian: “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house that you have brought me this far?” (NASB) As a collective group, all us Christians can say, ‘who are we, O Lord, that you have brought us this far?’ We should be grateful that the Lord has chosen us. We should be grateful that He has cleansed our sins, and we should be grateful that we will spend eternity with Him. And when we think of all the sins we have committed, we should have a humble heart before the Lord, for, ‘who are we, O Lord, that you have brought us this far?’

The One who spoke existence into creation became flesh so that He might reach us and His name would be glorified. In and through the darkness that encircles our fallen world, Jesus Christ shines purely and brightly; we are attracted to Him like moths fluttering to get close to light in the dark of night. Jesus is worthy of all praise. Bow down and thank Him constantly.

We hope you take time this Christmas to meditate on Jesus and what He means to you. We hope you take time to appreciate the beautiful Light that fills our world, and we hope your celebration for Jesus is loud enough that those looking from the outside can hear the party. We’ll leave you with the words John the Baptist’s father, Zacharias, spoke just after John had been born. The Holy Spirit filled him and he spoke about the birth of Jesus:

	68 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people, 69 And has raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of David His servant-- 70 As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old-- 71 Salvation FROM OUR ENEMIES, And FROM THE HAND OF ALL WHO HATE US; 72 To show mercy toward our fathers, And to remember His holy covenant, 73 The oath which He swore to Abraham our father, 74 To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, 75 In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days. 76 "And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; For you will go on BEFORE THE LORD TO PREPARE HIS WAYS; 77 To give to His people the knowledge of salvation By the forgiveness of their sins, 78 Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, 79 TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH, To guide our feet into the way of peace."
	Luke 1:68-79 (NASB)

May the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you today and always…