Central Truth

With the birth of Jesus the Love of God was made manifest in our world and shone as a bright light into our dark world.  As His followers we have been commanded to shine His light to those sitting in darkness.   

Reflections

With the birth of Jesus, light came into the darkness of this world and nothing will ever be able to extinguish it.  From the very onset of His ministry on earth Jesus empowered those who believed in Him to become "earthen vessels" who would carry the light of the Gospel to a world sitting in darkness.  And at the end of His ministry here on earth His mandate to the disciples was: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matt. 28:19-20 NASB).                                                

Jesus is our example. Wherever He went, the powers of darkness had to retreat.  As His followers we have the life of Christ within us. Today, step out in faith and obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit living within you. Allow Him to minister to the needs of hurting, lonely people. Yes, you'll face opposition as Jesus did (John 1:11).  However, there will be those who have ears that hear, believe, and become children of God (John 1:12). 

A daily surrender of our own ambitions and schedules to His will for our lives will allow the life of Christ to be at work in this world. Do you remember a song we learned in nursery school? "This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine!" Everything hinges on that little three letter word "let."  Once we understand that the Light that shines through us has its source in God, our hearts will gladly surrender to Him everything needed to be useful for the work in His Kingdom. 2 Cor. 4:6-7 is a great verse to commit to memory for daily meditation, especially when we realize that "the god of this world has blinded the unbelievers' minds thus preventing them from seeing the illuminating light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, Who is the Image and Likeness of God" (2 Cor. 4:4 Ampl.).

Discussion Questions

1. According to 1 John 2:10, how do we "let" our light shine?  

2. Have you looked up 2 Cor. 4:6-7?  The Amplified Bible refers to Jesus as "the divine Light of the Gospel": a treasure which has been deposited into earthen vessels of clay (our hearts). 
What should our response be to such a costly treasure which is entrusted into our care?

3. In Psalm 119 of The Amplified Bible we find two verses that speak of the Word of God as light: 
Verse 105:  Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Verse 130:  The entrance and unfolding of Your words give light; their unfolding gives understanding (discernment and comprehension) to the simple.