The Light of the World

John 8:12,
“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

Sixteen gold bowls were filled with oil and lit during the Festival of Shelters. Jesus stood beneath them in the inner courts of the temple, in a section known as the Treasury, John 8:20 and said that He was now the source of the Light.

The Light of Jesus brings salvation, not just to Israel, but to us, the world, regardless of who we are, race or location. As Christ Ones abiding in His words, in obedience to His perspective and guidance we will not only walk in His beautiful light, we ‘become’ as light reflecting the radiance of Christ in our character.
Philippians 2:14,15.

Let’s be honest and ask ourselves a point-blank question. Is our light shining? Is it radiantly obvious in our actions? In our behaviours? In our countenance? Is it shining forth to light up the dark corners for others or do the batteries weaken somewhat as life happens and takes us with it? Yeah, maybe we need to recharge before the God of our salvation and the Christ who stood under the sixteen golden bowls of oil, lighting the temple and point-blank stated in John 8:12,

“I am the light of the world. If you follow Me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

Philippians 2:14,
“Do everything without complaining and arguing. So that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives, as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.

Embracing Faith’s Victory

So, friends, if we don’t know there’s more to life than this scary, questionable one in which we presently live, we’ll find ourselves running fearful, paranoid, and empty! Ah, but the Bible tells us that the Hope of Heaven in the soul of us will give us reason to keep on keeping on, running the race fervently, persevering to the finish line even in the hard places, the challenging places, and the desolate places.

Truth is, our eyes and hearts tuned in and turned on to the heavenly realm, for sure, give us reason to rise to the challenge of what’s ahead, although none of us really know what that is as rumor has it this way and that!

Friends, there truly is a sweet hope in this present, desolate place of earth’s shallow emptiness! Contrary to popular belief, there is a real reason to keep moving ahead, one faith step ahead of the other, as we look down the barrel of so much unrest and turmoil.

Truly, God is still on the throne, on the move, still in charge, and still working it all out, just as prophesied in His Living Word! Turns out, this present world is really nothing as it pales in comparison to what amazing things lie ahead for those who love Him. The amazing things in store for us are not of this world but of His heavenly world and the eternal home that awaits us when this old earth takes a tumble off the edge of what it is and becomes what it’s to become.

So Paul writes in 1 Corinthians, 1:18

“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”

He’s so right you know! The cross can seem like foolishness to those who don’t know it or believe it, but in these days friends, it is our only salvation for the unfolding prophecy that lies ahead. New strange developments are happening daily and taking the world down a path of clear destruction! A path that invites us to go along to stay safe, but we won’t succumb to its fear-mongering tactics, because if we know the Christ of the cross, we know the winner of the game. So, instead, we take heart, find hope, and get on board with the Victor of this challenging struggle!

He’s got this turmoil and chaos and as hard as it is on us, we can know He’s got both it and ‘His’ people in His healing hand of blessing! He’s sizing it up, working it out, and lining it up, for those who follow Him and when it’s all said and done, and being really honest here, who doesn’t want to be on the winning side? So, hey, you today, Grab the victory shirt and join the victory team! Let’s stay together as we watch the news unfold. It’s not frightening when Heaven is our goal! It just moves us that much closer!

1 Corinthians 1:18

“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”

2 Corinthians 6: 2

“For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

A Night Of Slumber

The birth of the Christ-child, broke through the barriers of a dark, ripped apart world that night while it slumbered, and it graced and illuminated us with a real-life story of God’s plan of action! His divine solution to the ruin of sin and the death it brings, lay helpless in that manger. Yeah, a real-life story of Jesus’ divine birth, painful death, and glorious resurrection was set into motion that night to bring hope to all people everywhere.

A Star Is Born on that glorious night

So begin today’s journey with a thought at the manger! Ponder the cradle, just to regroup and rejuvenate that busy heart and when the lights go out and the nights are still so dark, and the world still slumbers on in oblivion, you know Jesus. Let His presence calm and lead, awaken and enlighten your beautiful soul.

So hey ~ The night is far spent and our nights are long ~ and yeah~ even at this joyous time of celebration, the world and we ~ still slumber in so many ways, oblivious to His grace, His unconditional love and His divine plan of salvation. Oh, we full-well know and we’re not ignorant of His story and His grace, but we just forget ~ being so wrapped up in gift-giving and wrapping and baking and buying and decorating and friends and family and ~ perfection! Busy hearts, busy minds, and hectic preparation rob the joy from the oh, so-sweet celebration that it’s meant to be.

#Adventofjoy

So Close To Bethlehem

So Close To Bethlehem

I wonder how close you are to Bethlehem today? Right now! Right, where you are, in the middle of a million things, a million thoughts, and a million worries? In the middle of COVID, and its conundrum of threat, fear and anxiety that’s come and nestled quite rudely into our Christmas celebrations? I wonder, can you reach out and touch the town sign that says its name, “Bethlehem,” or are you feeling veered off, lost and off track? Has the perplexity and complexity of it all gotten in and taken your hope, your joy and your peace down the garden path?

See it there then today, with your soul eyes. “Bethlehem!” Ah yes, there it is…

I wonder if you remember or even know the Hope born there that night in that crude stable, is as close as your heartbeat? Does the awesome gift of Hope from God resonate and radiate within you and from you? Does it affect your everyday living? Your thinking? Can you feel the depth of its magnitude deep in your soul, or have you sunk deep into that horrible conundrum of busyness and COVID chaos?

What a sweet gift the baby “Jesus” presented to the world in that wretched manger of straw surrounded by everything ‘less than perfect!’ Grasp, if you will, that picture of Hope for a broken and imperfect world! Not a COVID world but a sin world! Then reach out to receive a fresh touch for you! The thing is, it’s so much more than Hope isn’t it? Hope brings a joy and a peace of mind and a really gentle hug from God to message us that it’s ok. Everything really is ok”, and in that “million and one things” to-do list, His gift of Hope is the stable banner at the top to get you through.

Hope in Jesus, our Saviour? Yeah, it’s our salvation for the soul of us in these crazy days and the help for our day ahead, no matter what’s on the plate.

Because He came, Hope is our gift to receive and recycle to keep on giving. So you see, it’s all well and good! The birthing event of our Savior in Bethlehem, even though so long ago, is really very close, because the Hope He gave to the world that night, is His promise to us and still ours to receive! It’s a sweet gift that keeps on giving to our soul time and time again. So So amazing too, is that as we can share it with others so they can be brought closer to the Hope of the babe born in Bethlehem in their journey of chaos, broken and hopeless. When Hope wells up within, don’t ever underestimate the power of it within your circles of influence to ignite the spark in others! It’s contagious! It’s lovely and it’s peaceful, oh so peaceful!
❤
#Advent#GiftofHope