Do You Feel The Assurance Of Christ’s Light Increasing In You?
Good Morning Friends,
Today is the 4th Sunday in Advent and Christmas Eve Day so our family will be spending most of it at church, not as consumers of our faith but as practitioners of it. The days are beginning to get longer, about a minute a day for the next six months. Then around June 24 when my Catholic friends celebrate the birth of John the Baptist the days begin to get shorter. So today is both a visible sign as well as an invisible reality that is the very hope of longer days of light. For it is more than a voice of a child crying in the wilderness. It is more than a lamp unto our feet. It also is the reality of the light of Christ being born and the promised incarnate deity and man sparking a flame that continues to burn and shine around the world in the ordered ebb and flow of love. Still people are depressed this time of year…and spent in more ways than one… but they should not be for we have all been given the Holy Spirit and more power to change lives that far surpasses the one crying in the wilderness. So, we ask today’s question in anticipation but also in hope of Christ in each of us. Do You Feel The Assurance Of Christ’s Light Increasing In You?
Scripture: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Isaiah 9:2-7 (NRSV)
He must increase, but I must decrease.” The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, yet no one accepts his testimony. Whoever has accepted his testimony has certified this, that God is true. He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands.
John 3:30-35 (NRSV)
Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:6-9
It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be put to shame in any way, but that by my speaking with all boldness, Christ will be exalted now as always in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which I prefer. I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better; but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel,
Philippians 1:20c-24, 27a (NRSV)
So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
Matthew 20:16a (NRSV)
Message: Some say we should live like we were going to die and others seem to be dying to live but do not know how. The truth is most of us will never know the day of our death. Interestingly both Christ and John the Baptist knew they were going to die. They knew that the increasing and the decreasing of things implies a new covenant in the new birth but also implies death. The gifts of the wise men made it clear. So, perhaps if we did know about death as Jesus and John we would certainly live in a different way. For if we did know for sure that Jesus was returning tomorrow we would live differently. But such is not what we are to know for sure so we must act on faith. So here we are knowing the stories about the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus, even as we contemplate our own. And I think it all prompts us to show more love to others, and speak kinder words and even forgive those who need it. That is the Spirit of the Season. So, rejoice for a child will be born know and we will know the birth of the new Covenant and our conversations will center around Jesus…. the author and the finisher of our faith…. the alpha and the omega…the beginning and the end.
Pray we overcome evil with good…. darkness with life. Pray we believe in the deep mystery of John proclaiming a word and Jesus embodying it. Pray we rejoice in the miracle births of John and Jesus, of old mothers and young virgins. Pray we rejoice in the Zachariah’s voice returning on the birthday of John and the curtain being torn to the Holy of Holies to release the power of the Holy Spirit for us all upon the death of Jesus. Pray in the mystery of Jesus redeeming what we might have given up on. Pray we learn to love others despite their faults. Pray we trust Jesus. Pray as we light a candle this evening in worship that we contemplate the light of Christ being born into the world and spreading across the globe so others might see. Pray we show more love. Pray Christ’s light is increasing in us. Pray we realize that every day is Christmas.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 