Christmas Lights

During the Christmas season we see houses, stores, shopping malls, and even amusement parks decorated with beautiful arrays of lights.  Whether people decorate with a huge amount of lights like in the movies, Christmas Vacation or Deck the Halls, or if they just have a small chain of lights around their homes, lights are bringing happiness to the holiday season.  There are neighborhoods that decorate their homes so well that people come from far and near to see the lights.  Light.  It is ironic that the commercialism of Christmas picked up on one of the greatest symbols of Christmas. 

There was only one light that guided the wise men to Jesus over 2,000 years ago.  It was a star that they followed.  God guided them with a light to lead them to the light.  Once they met Jesus, they took another route home and were changed forever. Jesus does that. Jesus brings light to a world full of darkness because of sin.  As Christians, we are to bring that light to others.  In our current society, many people do not see us as a light.  We can bash others for not following and obeying God’s Word, but if we are not a light to others, then we also are not following and obeying God’s Word. If I work more on myself to be a light in a world of darkness, I have less time to bash others not following Jesus and more time to show them Jesus.

To be a light in the world means I have to bring joy to others.  It does not mean that I have to agree with everyone, nor do I have to drop my core beliefs.  We need to be light that make people see us and want what we have…Jesus.  To be the light means having the attitude of a servant and doing the job that no one else wants to do.  To be the light means having an attitude of compassion and discovering a way to help those less fortunate and gathering others in your ideas.  Being the light means listening to others and not giving advice, but just listening to their story.

To be the light in the world means to love.  Love is an action.  It is a verb.  Christmas is a time that many people gather with family and friends.  It is those that are most difficult to love that we must love.  We must love as if we are the houses with the most lights.  Our love must stand out.  Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.”  Since Jesus is the light, we must share that light with others.  It is only through love that others can see our light.  Jesus loved others when he was here on earth.  He didn’t argue.  He made statements that silenced people because he loved them.  This Christmas may we all choose to be the light to others and bring some cheer to those who need it.