Liv
Extracts of Truth & Encouragement from a Growth Journey with God
Mesmerizing Light
We put up our Christmas tree this weekend, as many of you probably did. My husband is not a huge fan of Christmas trees, as he believes it’s a tradition that takes away from the real meaning of what we are to celebrate. I understand where he’s coming from and that long ago, in many countries, people used evergreens in the hopes that they would ward off evil spirits, diseases, and other evils and also used them as decorations in the mid-winter to celebrate the winter solstice as well as various gods, including Saturn (the Roman god of agriculture), Ra (Egyptian god of the sun, order, kings, and the sky), and Balder (Viking sun god). While they wrongly attributed life, being fruitful, life’s victory over death, and eternal life to their various gods, evergreen trees, created by the One True God, YAHWEH Borey (LORD Creator), symbolize these gifts of a fruitful life in the context of what Christ’s birth means to me, as a believer.
Many years ago, I was sitting in our Living Room, working through a Bible study. The room was dark, except for the glow from a small lamp beside me, which I used to see what I was reading and writing down; the pure, white lights from our Christmas tree shone brightly from the corner of the room. As I pondered one of the questions in the study, my eyes fell on the reflection of the Christmas lights, bouncing off my piano and into my sight. I couldn’t take my eyes off of them. I watched them dance, as they interacted with my vision. They held my attention, and nothing else seemed to be in the room…only them…and me. It was at that moment that the LORD revealed that this is what my life, as a believer in Christ, was supposed to be like!
- Pure
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8 ESV
“Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;” 1 Peter 1:22 ESV
“The words of the LORD are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.” Psalm 12:6 ESV
“The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” 1 Timothy 1:5 ESV
- SHINING LIKE A BRIGHT LIGHT
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16 NASB
“Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life…” Philippians 2:14-15 BSB, 16a ESV
- LIKE THE PIANO, REFLECTING THE LIGHT OF THE TREE, I AM TO BE REFLECTING THE LIGHT OF JESUS!
“Then Jesus spoke to them, again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12 NKJV
“Jesus answered,…’I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.’ ” John 9:4-5 NKJV
“Jesus answered, ‘Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.’ ” John 11:9-10 NKJV
Jesus is in me; therefore, His light is still in the world!
That evening, the lights on the tree were captivating, but I wasn’t looking at the tree. I was looking at the light from the tree being reflected by the shiny side of my piano; yet, I was mesmerized by the beauty and purity of the light. This made me reflect (literally)…
- Is my life, as a believer in Christ, pure, shining (reflecting) His beauty alone, or do I have pride or other sin that is diminishing that light?
- Is my life one that captures the eyes of others in a way that allows them to see Christ more clearly, and He takes their breath away?
This year, as you trim your tree or sit admiring it, reflect on this…
- Are you trimming your life with the beauty of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, which you can only get from the Spirit of God, or have you bought into ugly, cheap trimmings of envy, conceit, idolatry (anything or anyone being placed on the throne of your life instead of the King of Kings), hatred, outbursts of wrath, etc.?
- Are your words adorned in a way that is full of wonder and invites others to move closer to your Savior?
- Have your actions been appealing to others, making them want to be part of God’s family?
In ALL things, we are to make the truths of the son of God, Jesus Christ, beautiful and appealing (Titus 2:10) to those who observe us! May He be a mesmerizing light through you!
Liv 