The link to this week's live-streamed service is here
Have you noticed the days getting longer? In December my outdoor lights came on at "dusk" which could be as early as 3:30 in the afternoon. Now, in February, the skies don't darken until 6:00-ish. The sun, light, is returning to the Northern Hemisphere. Along with light the sun brings warmth and renewal. Flowers bloom, trees come out in leaf. People smile more. Hibernating animals come out of their caves. Playing fields bloom with kids.The earth is reborn.
For the Christian, Christ is the sunlight. In the darkest days of December we celebrate His birth as "the light of the world." At the Transfiguration (Matt.17: 1-5) Jesus is suffused with light, His face shining like the sun, His clothes dazzling.
In our hymnbook topical index there are ten hymns listed for "Christ, the light." There is another segment of twelve hymns devoted to "Holy Spirit, Illuminator." In the section on Holy Scripture the hymns are larded with references to light, "O God of light," "a sanctifying light," "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet," "Let there by light, let there be understanding," "And where the gospel day/ Sheds not its glorious ray,/ Let there be light." (Please add your favourites in the comments section.)
Like the natural world, we bloom and grow when we are in the light of Christ. We probably smile more. We face challenges with resolve, confident that our Saviour is present in all our moments. We embrace our days with joy, knowing Christ walks beside us. Even as the dark clouds of war, and poverty, and evil swirl around us, we know that, like the sun, Christ will come again. His light will brighten our skies. His warmth will melt the frozen corners of our hearts. In His radiance, we will be reborn.
Hymn 111 in our Book of Praise
Christ is the world's true light Her captain of salvation.
The Daystar clear and bright Of every man and nation.
No comments:
Post a Comment