Light That Overcomes Darkness

Well, here we are in the middle of the longest nights and darkest days of winter – though we’ve not hit the bottom of that one for a while yet. 

And here we are on this first Sunday of the season of Advent – a time of preparation for Jesus’ coming.

It doesn’t take me to announce to you here that Christmas is on the way.  Every store around has their usual displays and most cities have turned on their holiday light displays.

I’m glad for those lights because they are a reminder that this is a season to think about how Jesus, the Light of the World, came close to us to bring us from darkness to light. 

Some of the most hopeful and encouraging words in the Bible are these:

The people who are now living in darkness will see a great light. They are now living in a very dark land. But a light will shine on them.

Isaiah 9:2

They were spoken by a prophet hundreds of years before Jesus was born but then reaffirmed just before His birth:

All of that will happen because our God is tender and caring. His kindness will bring the rising sun to us from heaven. It will shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death. It will guide our feet on the path of peace.”

Luke 1:78-79

Jesus has come.  Jesus has demonstrated the kindness of God to people living in dark places because of their rebellion and sin – and that’s us, of course. 

In God’s great tenderness and caring He has come to us with healing, with forgiveness and with guidance so we can live in peace.

Advent is a season of us opening our eyes and our hearts to this light and love that God is offering us.  The more we reflect on God’s great love the more tender our hearts become and we then more readily welcome all that He has for us so we can truly live well.  That’s the purpose of this season of Advent.

Heavenly Father, Where are we living in darkness?  Where can we welcome more of Your light?  How might our daily living be changed by Your tenderness and caring for us?

During these days of Advent, would you stir our hearts so we recognize the many ways You are presenting light and life and hope and then with humble and grateful hearts receive all that You are offering.  Amen

The angels could only know some of what we are able to know but they still announced that Jesus’ coming was meant to fill us with great joy.  With all the other activities and preparation of the season, let’s prepare our hearts for the gift that lasts a lifetime.