Untitled Page

The Christmas season provides a glorious opportunity to share with the world the wonderful story and gift of the one, true, living God who has revealed, in an extraordinary and unusual way, both His imminence and His intimacy with His creation.

That silent night, some two thousand years ago, was broken with the glorious sounds of an angelic announcement (reference Luke 2:8-14). Four hundred years of silence had enveloped the world with a dark cloud of despair when suddenly a glorious light and triumphant sound fell from the heavens like the morning dew refreshing a dry and weary land desperate for a word from God.

No greater word could have been uttered to a world desperate to hear from its Creator than: "I have sent My One and Only Son into the world." No greater sound could have fallen on the ears of those shepherds than the cry of their Savior cutting through the stillness with the promise of hope. The stillness of that ordinary night had been transformed by the extraordinary radiance of the glory of God! Carrying that wondrous light with them, the shepherds continued on "glorifying and praising God" (Luke 2:20). The silence has been broken and the darkness has been illuminated all because of the love of a Heavenly Father who knew the greatest need of His creation could only be met by the sacrificial gift of His One and Only Son. "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him" (John 3:16-17).

While in the world, Jesus Christ became the Light of the World. He cast His brilliant light into the dark shadows of the human heart and provided humanity with a pathway out of the darkness into His glorious light. Upon His departure from this earth He passed that torch to His followers: "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:14-16).

Jesus, our Immanuel, God with us, is ever present today; He has not left us nor forsaken us, no matter how deafening the silence may seem, or how alone we may feel. Only by putting on a garment of human flesh and willingly laying down His life as a sacrifice could our Savior deliver us from the bondage of sin, rescuing humanity from the darkness of this world and providing a pathway into His glorious presence for all eternity. His time on this earth was short, but He accomplished all that He came to do, leaving only to prepare a glorious home in heaven for all who would choose to follow Him. His departure brought with it another expression of His extraordinary love through the wondrous gift of His Holy Spirit; providing His followers the means to continue the work He began - a work He Himself would ultimately complete (reference Philippians 1:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:24). "But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you: but if I go, I will send Him to you...when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth...He will bring glory to Me by taking from what is Mine and making it known to you" (John 16:7, 13a, 14).

During the 8-day celebration of the Festival of Lights, Jewish families light the candles on the Hanukkah Menorah, one-by-one, using the center candle called the "Shamash". This "servant" or "guard" candle provides a wonderful illustration to believers of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit of God in our lives. For it is through this glorious gift of God, received by all who believe and accept the gift of forgiveness and salvation, achieved through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, that we are empowered and enabled to radiate His Light in the world. "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16; see also Ephesians 2:22).

The Holy Spirit is a gift from God given to be our Guide and Helper as we carry the light of Christ into the world. The indwelling power of the Holy Spirit ignites the flame of passion inside the believer to seek the Lord with all their heart, enabling us as we grow in wisdom and knowledge, providing fertile ground to produce fruit that will become a source of nourishment to a world starving for love and longing for peace. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love..." (Galatians 5:22).

God is with us, He lives inside us. The world remains dark and silent only as long as the children of God bury His light and keep the glorious good news of Christ to themselves. Our Heavenly Father was motivated by love in sending His only begotten Son into the world - as recipients of this extraordinary (and costly!) expression of love we are called to the same motivation - to "love one another" (John 13:34). Love is what the apostle Paul called, "...the most excellent way." (1 Corinthians 12:31). Love lights the way as we allow the Holy Spirit of God to work in and through our lives to produce the fruit that will nourish and sustain a world in need.

There is no greater crop we can continue to cultivate than the crop of LOVE -- it is God's greatest commandment (reference Matthew 22:37-39) and our obedience will result in the production and increase of all other spiritual fruit. The Holy Spirit inside us guides us to seek the Lord in His Word, in prayer, and in fellowship with other believers to cultivate in us and through us the love necessary to fulfill the "law of love". "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law" (Romans 13:8).

During our 8-day journey we will be lighting the candles on the 9-branch Menorah. If you do not have a Menorah (inexpensive ones can be found at party stores and craft stores), you may also use a set of candles (electric candles are also a good substitute). This ceremony and devotion time can be in the evening or whatever part of the day works best for your family. Jewish families begin their celebration at sundown on the first day of Hanukkah. We begin by gathering the family together (or you can simply sit at the feet of Jesus yourself) and light the center candle of the Menorah - the "Shamash" candle and share the words above about God's gift of His Holy Spirit.

This journey is not a "fast" - it is a "feast" - so the entire family can participate. Soak in God's Word by reading aloud the ultimate love chapter of the Holy Bible: 1 Corinthians 13. Have each family member take turns reading a section of this beautiful chapter. This first night of our journey is meant to prepare our hearts and unite our families as we walk through this dedication ceremony and watch as each candle is lit to become a beautiful symbol of the how brightly we shine when we join our hearts together in the bonds of love. When our families are built up in love we are made stronger to share His love and radiate His light in the world!

Jesus' prayer for you: "Father...My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. I have given them My glory that You gave Me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and You in Me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me. Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, and to see My glory, the glory You have given Me because You loved Me before the creation of the world. Righteous Father, though the world does not know You, I know You, and they know that You have sent Me. I have made You known to them, and will continue to make You known in order that the love You have for Me may be in them and that I Myself may be in them" (John 17:20-26).

"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge

and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be

pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness

This evening spend some time together praising and worshiping the Lord with some of your favorite Christmas songs. Tomorrow we will continue our journey and will learn more about the lighting of the Menorah. Encourage your family to join you on this special journey as we continue in prayer and celebrate the Advent of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Note: The candles are meant to only stay lit for a half hour. Be sure to extinguish the flame each night.