We just celebrated the 2nd Covid restricted Christmas this past Saturday. Again being warned of the potential of getting the virus if we do not follow safety guidelines to protect ourselves and our family.
I am reminded of Paul’s words in:
Romans 8:28 “We know in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, those who have been called according to His purpose.”
So, we should recognize the good purpose of God for these 2 Covid Christmas because of our love Him and his purpose for them.
Every Christmas people in the world celebrate the season of Christmas but how many really stop to take to heart it’s true meaning of Jesus’s birth to be the Savior of the world but instead get caught up with everything that is not about Jesus. I think God’s good purpose for these Covid Christmas is to truly take more time to remember why He sent his beloved Son to die for our sins and to be the light that came to expose the darkness that was in this world.
John 9: 4 As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
Our Savior Jesus also came to be the light of God’s truth, so that all who believed in him would receive his Father’s gift of eternal life. Jesus also said that while he was in the world, he would be its light, but night would come when he left.
John 12: 35 Then Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. 36 Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light."
John 12: 46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
Jesus said when he left darkness would come but warns us not to let darkness overtake us by putting our trust in his light and be children of his light.
Now that Jesus has left, the world is in darkness where Satan roams as a hungry lion trying to devour God’s children with his temptations and lies.
The light of Jesus is the word of God from the Bible where we learn of his teachings and commandments that exposes the darkness that leads to death, but all who remain in Jesus’ light keeps it shining until he returns.
The light of Jesus lives is all who love him, and this is how we love Jesus and become his light in the world.
John 14: 15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command.16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."
Those who love Jesus are his disciples who know his teachings and commandment and obey them as their light through the Holy Spirit’s counseling who will dwell in us forever.
John 14: 23 Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
This light of God’s truth is something we must keep filled with so that it does not go out which Jesus teaches in his parable the light of the 10 virgins.
Matthew 25: 1 "At that time the kingdom o heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 "At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' 7 "Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' 9 " 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' 10 "But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. 11 "Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!' 12 "But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.' 13 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
Loving Jesus is keeping the light of our lamp filled with God’s truth, so that our light does not go out and be overtaken by darkness preventing us from seeing Jesus’ when he returns.
So, let our light shine by knowing why Jesus was born to us on the day we call Christmas and to love him by obeying his teachings and commandments, so that they will make their home in us forever.
John 14: 23 Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
Be safe in Jesus, Ps. Glenn