Countdown to Christmas – Day 21

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.’

John 3:16-21

As little children, many of us are taught the bible verse of John 3:16. We may have barely been able to reach the top of the kitchen table, but we could recite that verse off the tip of our tongue and missing front teeth.

But tucked deep into this chapter is a promise we are challenged to hold tightly with both hands. The world around us is a complex and complicated vortex. There exists an enemy of our soul and he is hard at work to confuse us any which way he is able. We may all live in different cultures, one as unique as the next, but at the core of our humanity we are all the same born with a beating heart and set of lungs. And, without fail, each of us question our very being, our existence, our purpose, and most importantly… our value. The more our common enemy is able to confuse us, the more difficult it is to discern the Holy Spirit at work in our lives.

God did send His Son, the Messiah, to save us. He did this because of His great love for us. This love is one that we simply cannot comprehend in our shared humanity. And God knew such a complexity would be beyond our mind and emotions. So, perhaps that is why He promised that if we lived by the truth, letting go of the darkness by coming into the light of the Spirit, we would see plainly our being, our existence, our purpose… and our value.

The trial has happened. Jesus stood on the stand, a rumble spread through the courtroom. And the scriptures declared a verdict was in: light has come to the world. Jesus is the light we must seek so the darkness does not cause us to stumble. If we continue to seek the light, allowing Christ’s Spirit to illuminate from within, we need not fear the dark.

Father, light my path and lead the way so I may know who I am in your Son, Jesus. When the enemy is trying to confuse me or cause me to stumble, help me to see plainly your truths. In Jesus name, amen.