All is Bright (Point to Christ-Day 5)
OPENING PRAYER:
Dear Lord, thank you for your invitation and your plan of salvation for us. “For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight,” (Ephesians 1:4, NIV).
Ezekiel 33:31
My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain.
I John 3:18
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth.
REFLECT:
While this is my final devotion for 2022, it also marks several endings. This brings the end of the year and the end of the Christmas season. In fact, as I mentioned earlier in the week, the song Silent Night almost always marks the end of a typical Christmas Eve service. More significantly, the virgin birth of Christ marked the end of a long wait the children of Israel had for their blessed savior to come. So, as we reflect on the song – Silent Night, again, we will look at the impactful words that priest Joseph Mohr penned on paper in 1818. The third and typically final verse exclaims: “Son of God, love’s pure light; Radiant beams from Thy Holy Face.” Spiritual darkness had enveloped Israel for centuries, but the light and hope of a savior had finally come!
Interestingly, verses 4, 5 and 6 are almost never referenced but hold great meaning. Verse 4 declares: “Silent Night, Holy Night; Here at last, healing light; From the heavenly kingdom sent; Abundant grace for our intent.” This rings similar to John 1:4, NIV, “In him was life, and that life was the light of men.” Verse 5 continues: “Silent Night! Holy Night; Sleeps the world in peace tonight. God sends his Son to earth below; A Child from whom all blessings flow.” This is reminiscent of Christ in John 14:27, NIV, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” The final stanza of Silent Night brings us great assurance: “Silent Night, Holy Night; Mindful of mankind's plight; The Lord in Heav'n on high decreed; From earthly woes we would be freed; Jesus, God's promise for peace.” We as believers in Christ have a blessed hope that we must share with the world. Let us not neglect our savior’s calling on us and go tell others all about him!
APPLY:
Even though it is the end of many seasons, it’s the dawn of amazing grace and hope! When we have given our lives to Christ, all things are new: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come,” (II Corinthians 5:17, NIV). So, no matter what our past is, as new believers in Christ, we begin again – only this time, not on our own, but through life in Christ. As the year 2023 begins, can we purpose to share Christ with more people than we did in 2022? We may have regret over the times we missed telling others this past year about Jesus, but a new year brings new opportunities! Let’s recommit this year to being the light of Jesus Christ for the whole world to see.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Holy Spirit, lead me to be salt and light to this lost world. Thank you, Jesus, that you “sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and you will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for you,” Hebrews 9:28, NIV. Amen.
WORSHIP: