Gospel for God’s Children by Linda Shields
“The Light of the World”
When our children were younger, Daddy would have them help him hang Christmas lights on the house, and make tall Christmas trees for the front lawn out of metal poles, wire and of course using strands of hundreds of Christmas lights. Dad would say, "You see the biggest tree there? It has 1500 lights on it.” He usually made 4 or 5 trees, then tell us to get ready to be "awed" when he plugged them in. The awesomeness usually lasted a minute or two before a fuse was blown and dad would have to rearrange a few cords, and find another outlet to plug in the lights, but after that we would hold our breath as the brilliant and spectacular show of lights returned.
As it got closer to Christmas, we would drive the children around town at night so they could see the light displays downtown and in the different neighborhoods. You could hear their excited voices in the back seat, "Oooh, look at that house!" or “Wow, look at all those lights!"
The custom of lights at Christmas goes back to when Christmas trees were decorated with candles which symbolized Christ being the light of the world.
In the book of John, chapter one verse 5, " The light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it."
Verse 9 says, "The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was going to come into the world."
Verse 14 states, "So the word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father."
This Christmas season as you gaze in wonder and awe at the lights of Christmas, the Advent candles, the thousands of bright twinkling Christmas lights in your own town and on your own Christmas tree, remember the true light during this season of lights, our King Jesus, the gift of God, who lived here among us, God in the flesh himself. John the Baptist said this to the people about Jesus, "We have all benefited from the rich blessing he brought to us- one gracious blessing after another." (John 1: 16)
This Christmas invite the light of the world into your heart, experience his gracious blessings.
Dear God, thank you for sending us your son Jesus. May we all experience the wonderful blessings of your precious gift. In Jesus name, Amen
God Bless