Let the Son Shine!

Daily Reading: Mark 4

Scripture Focus: And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand? For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light.” (Mark 4.21-22)

Devotional Thought: Having just come through the Christmas season, my mind is fresh with examples of how people want to leave Christ out of Christmas. “Happy Holidays!” “Seasons' Greetings!” But, it’s hard to have Christmas without Christ, unless of course we reduce it to an opportunity for unbridled consumerism – celebrated all the way from Black Friday through the after-Christmas sales!

Each year, a team of volunteers would come to the church I pastored and “UNdecorate” the sanctuary. Garland down, wreaths packed away, trees disassembled, and lights unplugged. The sanctuary always looks so bare after the decorations are down. It seems so empty. Life is like Christmas in that way. Without Jesus, it is just plain and dark. It is empty. The good news is that we don’t have to have Christmas without him and we don't have to pack him pack away with the Christmas lights!

Jesus is the light of the world. The light is shining in the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it (John 1). He didn’t come to be packed away and hidden. He came to be placed in a prominent place in our lives, in our homes, and in our world. Let Jesus have that prominent place in your life, so that the joy and peace, the hope and love of Christmas shine through your life all year long!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, come into my life and shine your light in every secret place. Search me, O God, and know my heart, try me and know my thoughts. Cleanse me and set me free to celebrate Christmas all year long. Amen.

Psalm of the Day: 3.1-8