As much as I love Christmas, the time has come to begin cleaning up the decorations.  Now I realize many Christian traditions continue the celebration much longer, but in our home growing up the saying was “if the tree and decorations aren’t put away by New Year’s Day, you’ll have bad luck in the New Year!”  Whether a ploy to motivate us to help with the clean-up or a genuine tradition of some sort, my mama’s timeline has stuck with me and the clean-up in our home has officially begun.
The first step in the clean-up process was moving the Advent wreath and candles from the dining table to a smaller, more out-of-the-way table in a different room.  Even away from its normal holiday home, I haven’t been able to resist lighting the candles a few more times.  There’s just something special about the candlelight and all that it represents.  I pray God will continue to remind me in the year ahead of the lessons He’s spoken to my heart this Advent and Christmas season.  The Bible has so much to say about light and darkness, and Jesus is right in the middle of it all . . .

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”  Isaiah 9:2

     Jesus is the light of the world, and His light is always enough.  In this world there is still much darkness and confusion, so we must stick close to the Lord and follow Jesus very closely.  Regular prayer, Bible study, worship, and fellowship with other believers are so important to remaining close to the Lord.  Despite the darkness all around, we will not be overcome as we seek Jesus and follow obediently one step at a time.

“Jesus spoke to them 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

“The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.”      John 1:5

     The longer and more closely we walk with Jesus, the clearer the path becomes.  Praise God, a day is coming when all darkness will be dispelled, and we will live in the full light of God’s eternal Glory!

“The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter until the full light of day.”  Proverbs 4:18

“There will be no more night.  They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light.  And they will reign forever and ever.”  Revelation 22:5

     Until that day, Lord, help us walk faithfully in Thy perfect light.  From the beginning of time when you said, “Let there be light” you have been illuminating creation and overcoming darkness.  Darkness is the absence of light, and we don’t want to attempt to journey through this dark world without You.  Without your Light, we stumble, fall, and lose our way.  Empower us to follow Thy Word, for we know that it is a lamp for our feet and a light for our path.

Teach us how to be in the world, but not of it, for “what fellowship can light have with darkness?”  You’ve said we shouldn’t be “yoked together with unbelievers” but should instead “come out from them and be separate.”  At the same time your Word instructs us to “love one another.”  Grant, O Lord, understanding, wisdom, and courage to live as you would have us to live.

“Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness.  Whosoever loves his brother lives in light and there is nothing in him to make him stumble.”  1 John 2:9-10

“Do not love the world or anything in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”  1 John 2:15

     The lines are so easily blurred for us, Lord.  We desperately need You to light our way.  Lead us, guide us, and help us walk always in the light of Thy perfect love.

“If we walk in the light as he is the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”  1 John 1:7

     With faith in Jesus and the help of His Holy Spirit, our desire is to walk in the light in the New Year and beyond for the glory of God the Father.  Amen.