(Note on the art: This week’s header image – the first few days of December – is sampled from several Christmas cards created by Marion Pack. Check out her website at http://www.igleinkart.co.uk; believe me, you’ll be glad that you did.)
ADVENT DAY TWO: working on my “towards”
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. (John 1:1-5)
HOPE ROOTED IN STRENGTH: Yesterday morning I was a little bit blown away by the fact that around 120 people showed up for the Advent class I’m teaching during the “Discipleship Hour” between worship services at WFPC.
My goal for the first session was to begin our journey into December with our initial trajectory calibrated appropriately.
“I’m no rocket scientist,” I said, “but I know enough about math to understand that if you shoot something a long way with even the smallest miscalculation in terms of ‘towards,’ then it’s going to miss the target by a very wide margin.”
I even included this helpful slide (above left).
When I got home I started to think about how well I’m lined up in terms of “towards.” It’s all very well for me to encourage people not to miss Christmas on December 25, but what about today? What about tomorrow? Where am I headed? Where am I rooted?
THE WORD: I know this much; like the gospel writer John, I know that everything that counts must be rooted in the Word. Jesus has been in the creation and the re-creation business since before the beginnings of time, and all things – including me – must find their starting place in him.
Jesus is the life force of my being, and his life is the source of light for all people.
- Light, and then out of light, life.
- Life, and because of life, light.
Mary’s Joseph (see yesterday’s devotion) had the confidence and the courage to live as a child of the light because he was already listening to God; he had the God life. He let his light shine in the darkness, and the darkness didn’t stand a chance.
That’s the reason God sent Jesus. So we could all know such life and light, and so that we could defeat darkness, together.
In the joy of promise – DEREK
Hi Derek, Today’s blog reminds me of a verse which brings much hope to me in my walk. It is like Mercy Me says it, “I can only imagine… ”
Revelation 22:5, 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
The image of light is – for me also – one of the most powerful when it comes to God. I can see that light dwelling inside, and it is a helpful visual when it comes to living as children of the light. Love that Revelation passage!