I greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. As we gather today, let us reflect on the words of the Apostle John in his gospel, chapter 1 verse 5: "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."
In this season of Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Light of the world. He came into a world shrouded in darkness, a world filled with sin, suffering, and despair. Yet, the darkness could not comprehend or overcome the brilliance of His light.
Just as the wise men followed the star to find the Christ child, we too are called to follow the light of Christ. We are called to walk in His light, to live as children of light, as Paul reminds us in Ephesians 5:8. This means living lives that reflect the love, grace, and truth of Christ. It means being a light in a dark world, bringing hope and healing to those around us.
But living in the light also means acknowledging our sin and confessing it to God. As the great reformer, John Calvin, once said, "We are not only blind, but we are also the cause of our blindness." We are sinners in need of a Savior. And praise be to God, for He has provided one in Jesus Christ.
As we continue to celebrate the birth of our Savior, let us remember the words of the great preacher, Charles Spurgeon, "The same sun which melts wax hardens clay. And the same Gospel which melts some persons to repentance hardens others in their sins." May we not be hardened by the Gospel, but softened, transformed, and renewed by its message.
Let us pray:
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, to be the light of the world. We confess that we are sinners in need of Your grace and mercy. Help us to live as children of light, bringing hope and healing to those around us. May the light of Christ shine brightly in our lives, dispelling the darkness of sin and despair. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
