Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Don’t Get Blinded by the Christmas Lights


Every year it seems people put up a few more strings of Christmas lights.  It doesn’t matter how gloomy the economy is or how tight the budget is...those lights are going up and all for the sake of countless hours admiring their masterwork minus the painstaking hours spent messing with blown bulbs, wiring, extension cords, etc.  So what is it about these bright colored lights that puts us in a hypnotic state of feeling happy, warm, and secure despite the worries, stress, hurt feelings, and selfish desires that swirl around us on a daily basis? Why is it that some people realize how blessed they are only one day out of the year and then they take down their Christmas lights and resort to their old ways?  They are surrounded by artificial light and submerged in spiritual darkness.
 
In John 8:12, Jesus said, “I am the light of the world; he who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life”. We must daily study God’s word and submit to Him in prayer so that we can develop a close relationship with God and live in the light.  As we enjoy the bright twinkling lights we are reminded of Christ’s light shining in a dark world and the reassurance of a relationship with God.  This should lead to an enlightened heart filled with gratitude and, a humble, wonderful attitude toward God each and every day.
 
“Our attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:  Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:5-11).
 
Father, thank you for Your Son who came to earth to be the Light.  Help us to be aware that others are still stumbling around in spiritual darkness and let us be lights that shine the truth of Jesus Christ to them during the holidays and throughout the new year. In His name we pray, Amen.
 
Carla Henson
Tuscola, Texas

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