Starry Night: Christmas Advent Daily Devotional (Beginning Dec. 1)

December 18

John 8:12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

     This was Jesus second "I am" statement in the book of John. On December 1 the John 1:1-18 passage opened the lesson and Jesus being the light was touched on. Let's look at verses 4 and 5 again. "4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."

     It was prophesied that the messiah would bring light to the world by Isaiah earlier in the passage in chapter 9 that many of us are familiar with. I've tacked verse 6 onto the end so you would recognize it.

Isaiah 9:1-2, 6 - But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

     Remember John the Baptist, the forerunner to Jesus? Just after his birth the Holy Spirit filled his father with a prophecy concerning John's calling. Read what John's father said:

Luke 1:76-79 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."

     Jesus is that sunrise giving light. It says it's to guide our feet. But we do have the sun during the day and moon at night to guide our feet, so this is clearly being used as a metaphor.

John 12:44-50 And Jesus cried out and said, "Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. 47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. 49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment--what to say and what to speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me."

     But what is the meaning of light and dark? We'll dig into that more below. First, notice the contrast between the people drawn to the darkness versus those drawn to the light.

John 3:19-21 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God."

     Whatever is true belongs to God and is in the light, and whatever is evil hides in the dark. Does that sound like a super hero cartoon, or maybe Star Wars where the Jedi all wear light colors and the evil siths like Darth Vader wear black. There's a reason dark has come to represent evil. Even now when we see people more openly flaunting things we know to be evil, there are still things they try to hide. Think of even the most liberal politicians and actors, there are still things they hide. The things they fear might turn the masses against them. The things of God are good and have no need to be hidden in the dark. Look below at the next two passages for some of the good things that are worthy to shine in the light.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Ephesians 5:6-16 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." 15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

     Jesus' light shines in our hearts through the Holy Spirit that He gave to all believers after He departed. The Holy Spirit, part of the trinity of God, gives us knowledge of the glory of God! Remember our study about how man could not see the face of God because God's glory is too great for us in our sinful state? While Jesus was on earth, men could look at God. But because Jesus was fully man, He only interacted with the people He was physically present with. Once Jesus paid the price for our sin, we were spiritually cleansed and able to have the Holy Spirit reside in each and every believer simultaneously.

John 14:15-17 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

     That Helper is the Holy Spirit. There is so much to be said about this, but for brevity's sake I cannot here. However I will point out that because every believer has the same Holy Spirit within, we as Christians are all part of the same "body of Christ" the scripture refers to. Though our natural selves often fight against the Spirit, we are called to be unified in our purpose to glorify God and grow His kingdom. Each person has a different purpose within the body, and each person is necessary. Don't underestimate your value and importance in the kingdom of God to accomplish His plan here on earth.

Romans 12:4-5 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

     Read further in Romans 12, and also Ephesians 4 for more on the unity of the body and spiritual gifts which have been given to all believers. Christ is always the head of the body. He determines the direction we should go and His light shines to make the way visible.

     I will finish with scripture concerning Christ at the second advent - His return. Be ready and be about His business until He returns. Please note that it does not literally mean we are not to sleep; sleep is merely an expression meaning shifting our focus from the things of God to the things of the world, and not participating in the work of the church that all believers are called to. In other words letting ourselves become lazy towards the things of God.

1 Thessalonians 5:4-11 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day (Christ's return) to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

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