Light Shines In the Darkness

John 1

 ¹ In the beginning the Word already existed.

      The Word was with God,

      and the Word was God.

 ² He existed in the beginning with God.

 ³ God created everything through him,

      and nothing was created except through him.

 ⁴ The Word gave life to everything that was created,

      and his life brought light to everyone.

 ⁵ The light shines in the darkness,

      and the darkness can never extinguish it.

Thought for the Day
For years my father, who is a retired scientist, use to tell the story about a federally funded experiment using infrared cameras on test subjects at a VA hospital. The experiment was designed to determine a person’s health and energy levels by measuring the aura surrounding the human body. Preliminary test indicated that as a person’s health wanes so does the thickness of the light around their bodies. The study was done using the infrared camera behind two-way mirrors in a hospital room.

            During the experiment one of the test subjects’s had a visitor and they decided to film the encounter to see if human interaction increased or decreased the person’s energy levels. When the visitor entered the room he removed an object from his pocket and a few moments later the room flooded with so much light that the cameras were unable to record discernable levels. After the visitor left the scientist discovered the man was in the last stages of cancer and the visitor he received had been his priest, there to administer Holy Communion. From that point forward they were amazed to find the man’s aura thicker and brighter than before the visit from his priest.

         When looking for a date to celebrate the birth of Jesus it was decided that what better day to celebrate the entering of “light” into the world than the longest, darkest night of the year, the winter solstice, usually  December 25. So out of the darkness shines a light that scripture tells us can never be extinguished.

Today's ADVENTure

Take a moment to reflect on the light of Christ that burns brightly within us every time we pause to admire a brightly lit Christmas tree or burning candle, taking comfort in the knowledge that the light that dwells within us still burns bright, vanquishing the darkness of the world around us.

Stay Alert

Mark 13:33-37

New Living Translation (NLT)

³³ And since you don’t know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert! ³⁴ “The coming of the Son of Man can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. When he left home, he gave each of his slaves instructions about the work they were to do, and he told the gatekeeper to watch for his return. ³⁵ You, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know when the master of the household will return—in the evening, at midnight, before dawn, or at daybreak. ³⁶Don’t let him find you sleeping when he arrives without warning. ³⁷ I say to you what I say to everyone: Watch for him!”

Thought for the Day

There are many people who spend much of their time trying to predict when Christ will return. However, this passage calls us live as a prepared and expectant people. The goal of God for His people is that they live transformed lives in the present which Romans 12 says is our reasonable service. Jesus does not wish for us to separate from the world and wait for His return. He instead calls us to proclaim the Good News of the Gospel to usher in His return. Examine yourselves today; are you spreading the Gospel in word and action? Will Christ find you busy at God's work or a sleep at the wheel?  

Today's ADVENTure 

Find at least one person today to share Christ's love with, if  possible a stranger!   

Every Spiritual Gift You Need

1 Corinthians 1:3-9

New Living Translation (NLT)

 ³ May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
 ⁴ I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts he has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus. ⁵ Through him, God has enriched your church in every way - with all of your eloquent words and all of your knowledge. ⁶ This confirms that what I told you about Christ is true. ⁷ Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁸ He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. ⁹ God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Thought for the Day
Eager waiting is an important element of this season.  What child hasn't eagerly entertained thoughts of what is awaiting them under the tree when they rise on Christmas morning?!  However, there are different kinds of "waiting".  PASSIVE waiting means we sit around and SLOWLY watch as time passes.  ACTIVE waiting, on the other hand, means that we stay involved in things that are important and needful even as we keep our eye on the future.  The season of Advent focuses on Christ's FIRST "advent"/coming as well as his SECOND "advent"/coming.  We celebrate the "gift" that has ALREADY been given - God's Son, Jesus the Christ - because through Christ we have been given all we truly need: a connection with the God who made us, a place to truly "belong" [the Church], and even God's presence to live within us and empower us [the Holy Spirit].  These gifts are given to help us "wait" - until Christ comes again in glory.

Today's ADVENTure

The next time you see a Christmas package, remember God's gift of Jesus.

Time Is Running Out

Romans 13:11-14

New Living Translation (NLT)

 ¹¹ This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. ¹² The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. ¹³ Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy. ¹⁴ Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.

Thought for the Day
Advent is a time for us to prepare for the arrival of Jesus the Messiah, and Jesus the Savior of the World; Jesus the tiny Baby of Bethlehem, and Jesus the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Jesus tells us that we can never know the time of his arrival and therefore we should always be prepared. As you go through this day think, "How would I prepare differently if I knew he would return this Christmas." That is how we should live each and every day of our lives. "The night is almost gone. The day of salvation is near.


Today's ADVENTure
When you see a clock today, remember that time to prepare is running out.

Introduction

Advent is a special time of year. It is the beginning of the Christian year. Four Sundays and the weekdays leading up to Christmas Day and the arrival of Jesus as the Babe of Bethlehem. Therefore, Advent is a time of preparation. We prepare our hearts to receive the newborn king. We prepare our homes and our churches for the celebration of that first Christmas Day. But Advent also reminds us that we should prepare for Christ's arrival in final victory. A day which all Christians should look forward to with eager anticipation.


As a part of your preparation for Christmas this Advent season you are invited to participate in this series of Advent devotions. A new devotion will be posted each day during Advent, beginning with Sunday, November 27, 2011. The devotions will include a short scripture lesson, a picture related to that scripture, and a short devotion from one of the staff persons at Central UMC in Meridian, MS. You can then add your comments below each devotion, reflecting on what you are doing in your life to prepare for Christ's arrival.


You may return here each day to read the devotion, you can add it to your RSS feed, or you can request that these be emailed to you each day. To do so just send an email to bob@cumcmdn.org or anita@cumcmdn.org with ADVENTuring Towards Christmas in the subject line and we will see that you receive these emails. Invite your family, friends and neighbors to follow these devotions as well. These are designed to help you in your Christian journey, whether you are a member of Central or not.


Get ready for ADVENTuring Towards Christmas.