Do You See the Light?

For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God's one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God's light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants. John 3:16-21 NLT (Underlined for emphasis.)

 Meditate on light.

 

We are getting close to the darkest, shortest day of the year, December 21^st. What are you doing that day? Sitting in the dark—bemoaning the fact that it is dark? If it is a cloudy day where you are, then it is likely to be a dark day. It is predicted to be cloudy and only 41 degrees Fahrenheit where I live. We so depend on the weather for part of our attitude…or at least I do. It is a lot easier to smile when the sun is shining! Ha! Jesus gives us joy every day—but do we accept that? A friend recently said that she depends on the Lord day by day…hour by hour…to give her guidance. No plans—she just gets her directions from the Lord. Very admirable. I often plan, and then ask the Lord if that is what I should be doing! My “Do List” needs to be the other way around! I need to ask the Lord for the plan for the day…and then do it! That’s what friends are for. They guide and help us in even what may seem like a trivial thing for the day.

I recently reflected on the fact that Hanukkah ends just after the darkest day of the year. As the light decreases when Hanukkah begins, more candles are lit on the menorah. The miracle of Hanukkah is that the Temple menorah lamp oil available should have only lasted for one day, but it actually lasted for eight days. During that time the Maccabees, Jewish group led by Judah the Maccabee, fought the Greeks and liberated Jerusalem and the Temple. You can find details about this in the books of the Maccabees, as part of the Apocrypha literature. It is not in the Hebrew Bible.

Miracles happen. We’ve heard about the miracles that Jesus performed when He lived on earth. Miracles still happen today. Are you looking for them? Do you need a light to shine and show you the Way, the Truth, and the Life? Jesus is the Light of the World. May His light and truth illuminate you every day…not just on the darkest day of the year so that you do what God wants, as noted in the focus passage for today. Do you see the light?

 

Prayer – Lord Jesus, shine within our hearts that we may share Your light and truth with others around us.   

 

Verses of Salvation ~ For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don't belong to darkness and night. So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk. But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. 1 Thessalonians 5:5-8

 

© 2025 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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