The LIGHT of the World
Today, I’m sharing the work of my bride and best friend, Jill, who directs our children’s Christmas program at church every year. She always searches for the perfect program to tell the story of Christmas but last year couldn’t find one that sufficiently and effectively expressed this remarkable story. So she wrote one. She used meaningful songs, the Word, and several supporting resources to develop a powerful dialogue for the program. Take your time as you read this. Consider these words today. I hope you enjoy this message, and I hope this touches your heart.
God bless. Merry Christmas. Grace and peace.
The LIGHT of the World
Christmas 2019
Christmas is a great time of year
to reflect on the
presence of Christ
in our lives, in each other,
and in our world.
Consider these words
from the book of JOHN
in chapter one.
In the beginning was the WORD,
and the WORD was WITH GOD,
and the WORD WAS GOD.
He was with God
in the beginning.
Through Him
all things were made.
In Him was life,
and that life was the LIGHT
of all mankind.
The LIGHT shines
in the darkness,
and the darkness
has not overcome it.
The true LIGHT
that gives light to everyone
came into the world.
The WORD became FLESH
and made his dwelling
among us.
We have seen his glory,
the glory of the one and only Son,
who came from the Father,
full of grace and truth.
As Christmas draws near,
let us awaken to the reality
of God’s presence
and grace together.
The Christmas story reminds us
that God is here, in our midst.
He is the LIGHT of the World.
Christ's divine presence
has been pervading
all of creation
since the beginning.
No one has seen God,
but Jesus has
made him known.
The birth of Jesus is a LIGHT
that reveals the
mystery of Christ
and the
nature of God
to all humanity.
The LIGHT of Jesus
reveals to us that
God is HERE
and
God is LOVE!
His LIGHT shines
to show us THE WAY
through the darkness
of our lives.
His LIGHT
is the hope of the world
for all mankind.
God is with us.
God is for us.
And God is leading us
to spread His goodwill
and divine peace
to all the earth.
Jesus reveals
the mystery of Christ
in our lives.
He offers us His LIGHT
to guide us to the WAY
and the TRUTH,
and the LIFE.
If we don’t pay attention
to the LIGHT of Jesus,
it’s like we’re walking around
in darkness.
The darkness makes us feel
separate from God
and each other.
The LIGHT of Jesus
exposes the darkness
and reveals the truth...
NOTHING
can separate us
from the
love of God.
CHRIST enters
into our suffering
and helps us to
create something new
out of our darkness.
Out of brokenness,
he creates wholeness.
Out of bitterness,
he creates forgiveness.
Out of despair,
he creates hope.
And out of death,
he creates resurrection!
The LIGHT of Jesus
has the power
to transform us
into new creations by the
renewing of our minds.
Through His transforming power,
we become who we were created
in His image to be.
Mary surrendered to this
mystery of Christ,
and willingly allowed CHRIST
to be born in her.
Similarly,
when we surrender
to the mystery of Christ,
the LIGHT of Jesus comes
to be born in us as well.
God is here among us
bringing us His goodness and LIGHT.
If we aren’t paying attention,
we could miss it.
Let us LOOK.
Let us LISTEN.
Let us SURRENDER.
The LIGHT of Jesus
is a gift of love
to all mankind.
His creation story
is still being written,
and we are invited
to be a part of that story.
God invites us
to embody His divine presence
to live the WAY of Jesus,
in order to
show the world
who God is
and what God is like.
To make the world BETTER
for all through sacrificial LOVE.
Will you receive the gift
as Mary did?
ASK and it will be given to you;
SEEK and you will find;
KNOCK and the door
will be opened to you.
We pray Christ be born in you today,
as you pay attention
to His LIGHT
and allow Him
to lead the Way.
