THE LIGHT OF LIFE!

 

Friday, December 22, 2023

THE LIGHT OF LIFE!

 

Isa 9:2

2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

 

Advent is a season of expectant “waiting” and we simply do not like to wait. The Latin adventus is a translation of the Greek parousia or “coming” and is commonly used in reference to the Second Coming of Christ. But Advent remembers the long season of waiting which was endured by the Hebrews who looked for Messiah to come – and then failed to recognize Him.

 

John 1:4-5

4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

 

1 John 1:5

5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

 

Candles are lit on an Advent wreath to mark the passing of the days of waiting and so Advent is a season of light. I find it personally interesting that the Jews celebrate Hanukah with the lighting of the menorah candlestick. The world lights up for this holiday time ignorantly celebrating what they generally do not understand or acknowledge.

 

 John 3:19-21

19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

 

They brought to Jesus a woman “taken” in adultery – in the very act. After Jesus sent her away redeemed and forgiven he made this declaration:

 

John 8:12

12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

 

Dear Lord, make the eyes of the blind to see your light today. Amen

 

THE ABUNDANCE OF THINGS!

 

Thursday, December 21, 2023

THE ABUNDANCE OF THINGS!

 

Luke 12:15

15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

 

          I am so blessed with stuff that it is scandalous! I have so much that it is hard to answer when asked what I want for Christmas. I literally have to imagine a need or even a want that can be purchased in a store! I suspect I am not so very different from most people in America.

 

          The above verse is part of an encounter with a man who came to Jesus asking him to help parcel out the family inheritance. In verse 13 the man asks Jesus to demand that his brother share the inheritance with him. Jesus responded in verse 14 by explaining that He did not come to be a judge of such things and then, in the following verses, gives the story of the rich man who had no place to store his goods.

 

          The language of verse 15 is interesting; even amusing. The word “beware” means “to isolate” and the words “take heed” literally meant “to stare at.” The idea is to isolate and fix your gaze upon covetousness. The word “covetousness” is pleonexia and indicates goods gained by fraud or extortion.

 

          Christmas is full of stories about frauds and greedy money grabbers. Ebenezer Scrooge and surly Mr. Potter were not happy with their great horde of money and goods. Threadbare George Bailey had a drafty old house full of love and laughter and crippled Tiny Tim was able to say, “God bless us every one!” All these Christmas stories plagiarize the teaching of Jesus on the matter of things. The abundance of things can never enrich one’s life. Isolate and stare at this truth.

 

1 Tim 6:6-9

6 [And it is, indeed, a source of immense profit, for] godliness accompanied with contentment (that contentment which is a sense of inward sufficiency) is great and abundant gain.

7 For we brought nothing into the world, and obviously we cannot take anything out of the world;

8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content (satisfied).

9 But those who crave to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish (useless, godless) and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction and miserable perishing.

AMPLIFIED

 

Dear Lord, in the midst of a season of great grabbing commerce, let me be content with family, friends and with you! Give us such things as we truly need and help us to isolate and stare hard at covetousness. AMEN

 

JOY TO THE WOLD!

 

Wednesday, December 20, 2023

JOY TO THE WOLD!

 

Matt 2:1-2

2 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

 

          Try to imagine a darkened bar room in some forlorn tavern. The room is filled with a luminescent blue cigarette haze and the revelers are listening to “Christmas music” from a local station.  From the ceiling speaker one can hear “Joy to the world the Lord is come. Let earth receive her king! Let every heart prepare Him room.” The dismal patron at the bar pays it no mind and sucks a long pull from his cigarette while contemplating his mug of beer which has lost its frothy foam.

 

          In a rundown living room of a tumbledown house family members sit in hushed silence as one church after another is called asking for assistance because “we are poor folks, and the kids won’t have Christmas without your help.” The phone is placed gently in its cradle and the room erupts in cheering because the church has promised fifty dollars and a bag of groceries. The room returns to silence as another number is dialed. This will be repeated many times. In the background the familiar Christmas song plays unheeded: “No more let sins and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground.”

 

Matt 4:16

16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

 

John 1:4-5

4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

 

Those who continue to sit in darkness while clutching a lantern are fools. The lantern is a burden to them! Only when they light the lantern can they safely navigate the darkness.

Lord, let us not ignore the message of the season. Our joy is in Christ and the salvation He brings. Let us be fools no longer. AMEN