Thursday, December 7
Isaiah 24:1-13 and I John 1:1-2:14
It is this time of year that many Christians put up Christmas trees with spectacular lights. Have you ever looked at those lights in awe? What do they represent to you?
Every Christmas season, I find peace as I sit in my living room with the only light coming from the Christmas tree. I often think about that first Christmas, the darkness of the world, and how God sent us His son as a baby in a manger to transform the darkness into light.
Long ago, the prophet Isaiah warned of the darkness and God’s coming judgement that will destroy the earth. God’s wrath will come upon the world because people have defiled and corrupted the earth with immorality and evil. In this present age, we see that our society is full of sin and is in rebellion against God, rejecting God and His law. The sins of this world have ramifications on all. Sin causes strife in relationships, guilt, shame, suffering, and depression. This is known as spiritual darkness.
1 John 1:1-7 proclaims a way out of the darkness. This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
When we are in right standing with God the Father and walk in His ways, we are saved by grace from the snares of sin and are able to embrace peace and joy that is only found in the light of our Savior, Christ Jesus.
In this Advent season, may you see the Christmas lights as a symbol of Christ being the light of the world. May the light of Christ in you shine brightly and overcome the darkness. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, turn on the lights in the lives of others by sharing the love and hope found in the Baby in the manger, the Light of the World.
LISA MARIANI
President’s Office, CUW
About this series
“God With Us: the uncommon advent of our Savior” is a sampling of biblical meditations composed by members of the CUWAA community. It is our prayer that you will take time during the Advent season to read and reflect upon God’s Word and await the coming of Jesus with newfound enthusiasm and anticipation through the Holy Spirit.