Names of Jesus - LIght of the World

Week one of Advent is about HOPE. We lit the first candle of Advent on Sunday, the Hope candle, or the Prophecy candle. The Hebrew prophets of old foretold of the coming Messiah, the one who would free them from the bondage of their sin and fulfill the Law. They knew the Law didn’t save them; they looked for the one who would be the fulfillment of the Law and release the burdens they felt when they couldn’t keep the Law.

Isaiah 2:9 says,

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.”

Jesus responded to Isaiah’s prophecy, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

My world has felt rather dark lately, how about yours? Jesus is the light that shines in the darkness, and darkness cannot overcome his light. The wonderful thing about Jesus’ light is that it shines into every nook and cranny of our lives, illuminating everything with his brilliance, even the parts we wish could stay hidden in the darkness. However painful, the revealing light that shines on and exposes our sin is the same light that awakens our souls to see our need of redemption.

As Jesus’ light shines in us, we reflect his light to those around us. Our world desperately needs light right now. God placed us in our world, right where we are in time and geography, for a specific reason. Does that thought give you pause? It does for me. To know that I was placed here deliberately, to shine God’s light to those around me, gives me hope and a purpose. I am where I am supposed to be, and you are too.

This week, let Jesus shine his light into your heart, burning out any hidden sins, shining through the darkness that has invaded our lives.

Names of Jesus - an Advent Devotional

Today is the first day of the Advent season. Advent comes from the Latin word 'adventus' and simply means "coming."

In this year of no coming or going anywhere, I want to especially look forward, not only to the coming of Messiah as a baby, but especially to the second coming of Messiah as the triumphant conqueror.

If you've been struggling to find joy this year like I have, let's change our focus from Covid to Christ, from loneliness to living fully, from disillusionment to decisive introspection.

Join me this Advent season and delve into the names of Jesus. We can look for his coming in our hearts and in the sky.