Living from our Eternal Advent; Be the light!

Do you want to talk about what happened last Wednesday? If you’re like me, you probably don’t. You may be tired of seeing, hearing and debating the events of the day. Feeling sad, confused and even angry, you might want to turn and look the other way. But, the reality is our world is unsettled and they need us right now. They need us to be the light!

As my blog about Epiphany posted last Wednesday, I had no idea the events that would unfold later that day. On one of the darkest days in American history, we, as Christians, were supposed to be celebrating the light breaking through the darkness. Ironic? I’m not sure, but what I do know is God is God and God is with us.

Now more than ever, it is imperative that we learn how to live from this place of Our Eternal Advent. Today, I want to give you some practical tools to help you anchor yourself. Because, if we are going to live from a place of hope, peace, love and joy, we have got to figure out how to be the light!

Be the light!

Last week, Isaiah reminded us that our light has come. John 1 explains that this light has always been.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” 

What hope we find when we believe “Jesus is our light and the darkness cannot overcome it.”

Jesus later affirms, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

In Matthew, Jesus makes it clear that we too are that light, saying, “You are the light of [Christ to] the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;¹⁵ nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.¹⁶ Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good deeds and moral excellence, and [recognize and honor and] glorify your Father who is in heaven.“(Matthew 5:14-16 AMP)

So, if we are going to be the light of Christ, how are we going to do it?

Practical tools for living from Our Eternal Advent

1. Anchor yourself in the Word of God. Read the Bible. It sounds so simple. But you must be disciplined. Intentionally set aside time each day to read God’s Word.
2. Pray. Pray for family, friends, even enemies. Pray for our leaders, our nation and the world.
3. Pray the scriptures. The most powerful and effective way to pray is to pray the Word of God back to God.
4. Make your actions match your words and your words match your actions. If you speak love, act love. Don’t just say love, be love!

Be the light of the world! 

As we prepare ourselves to live from Our Eternal Advent, we must be the light of the world. Christ called us to this very task. Jesus is the light and we too carry that same light within us. When we come together, with our little lights, our collective light shines that much brighter. United in Christ, we have to come together and be that light! If you think you have nothing offer, or there is nothing you can do to make a difference, I am here today to tell you, the world needs you! Show up and let your light shine! Be the light God has called us to be!

Let us pray:

Lord of light and life, we praise your holy name, glorifying you for all that you are. Thank you for sending your light into the world. Forgive us when we have rejected that light. Help us to understand we carry the light of Christ everywhere we go. Teach us how to let our lights shine so that we may be the light of the world. In Jesus’ name, Amen. -M