MONDAY, DECEMBER 24
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
John 1:1-5 ESV
LIGHT OF THE WORLD
Three men died on Christmas Eve and were met by Saint Peter at the pearly gates. “In honor of this holy season,” Saint Peter said, “you must each possess something that symbolizes Christmas to get into heaven.” The first man fumbled through his pockets and pulled out a lighter. He flicked it on. It represents a candle, he said. “You may pass through the pearly gates” Saint Peter said. The second man reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of keys. He shook them and said, “They’re bells.” Saint Peter said “you may pass through the pearly gates.” The third man started searching desperately through his pockets and finally pulled out a pair of women’s glasses. St. Peter looked at the man with a raised eyebrow and asked, “And just what do those symbolize?” The man replied, “They’re Carol’s.”
As many of us celebrate Christmas eve tonight, we will in fact sing Christmas carols and light candles in honor of Jesus’ birth. The traditional candle lighting service reminds us that Jesus was born to bring life and light into our lives. The bible teaches that without Jesus we are, in a sense, spiritually dead and walking in spiritual darkness.
Can you remember the last time the lights went off in your home? What was one of the first things you did? Often one of the first things we do is look for a light of some sort, maybe a flashlight or a candle. We do that because it’s difficult to get around in the dark. Another interesting thing can also happen. Our eyes can adjust and we can get used to the darkness. I think we can also get used to living without Jesus and that can be very destructive to us and those around us.
Thank God for the light of His Son, Jesus, today. Ask God to show you any areas of your life where you are walking in darkness. Ask God to bring spiritual light in those areas.
