Advent is a season of double waiting—we wait in imaginative memory with Israel for the birth of their Messiah, and we wait in present anticipation of Messiah’s final return. We wait, anticipating justice, eager for God’s comforting presence, desperate for God’s victory to be revealed once and for all. We are eager for Christ’s advent because the world remains a place filled with darkness. This is a time to examine our lives and realign with God and His purposes. As we focus on the Second Coming of Christ, we reflect on the state of our lives and obediently surrender to Jesus, we live in joyful anticipation of His return

Advent is a season of double waiting—we wait in imaginative memory with Israel for the birth of their Messiah, and we wait in present anticipation of Messiah’s final return. We wait, anticipating justice, eager for God’s comforting presence, desperate for God’s victory to be revealed once and for all. We are eager for Christ’s advent because the world remains a place filled with darkness. This is a time to examine our lives and realign with God and His purposes. As we focus on the Second Coming of Christ, we reflect on the state of our lives and obediently surrender to Jesus, we live in joyful anticipation of His return

In John’s gospel, he quotes Jesus as saying Light has come into the world. Jesus was sent into this rebellious world to deal with God’s eternal condemnation because of our sin. Not everyone was excited about this Light. At the appearance of this Light, judgment is inevitable, and condemnation is felt. Jesus acts in judgment to reveal the true nature of our human hearts. Jesus wants us to walk out of the darkness, which is bondage and death. When you take the step, the light of His forgiveness and grace will shine on you! And then, by the power of His Holy Spirit, you will be able to live the kind of life He wants for you, one that is holy or set apart from this dark world

In John’s gospel, he quotes Jesus as saying Light has come into the world. Jesus was sent into this rebellious world to deal with God’s eternal condemnation because of our sin. Not everyone was excited about this Light. At the appearance of this Light, judgment is inevitable, and condemnation is felt. Jesus acts in judgment to reveal the true nature of our human hearts. Jesus wants us to walk out of the darkness, which is bondage and death. When you take the step, the light of His forgiveness and grace will shine on you! And then, by the power of His Holy Spirit, you will be able to live the kind of life He wants for you, one that is holy or set apart from this dark world

When Jesus said, "I am the Light of the World," it was more than a statement about His glory. It was about what He came to do. Essentially the life of Jesus was about bringing life to people. Jesus brought hope and restoration to a dark world filled with hopelessness and brokenness and came to display all the goodness of God through His caring acts toward people. He came teaching truth. And He came to bear the punishment for our sin. In all these ways, Jesus is the Light of the World. Our hope for forgiveness, for reconciliation with God, and for a perfect, holy, eternal life, rests on the finished work of Jesus.

When Jesus said, "I am the Light of the World," it was more than a statement about His glory. It was about what He came to do. Essentially the life of Jesus was about bringing life to people. Jesus brought hope and restoration to a dark world filled with hopelessness and brokenness and came to display all the goodness of God through His caring acts toward people. He came teaching truth. And He came to bear the punishment for our sin. In all these ways, Jesus is the Light of the World. Our hope for forgiveness, for reconciliation with God, and for a perfect, holy, eternal life, rests on the finished work of Jesus.

While Christmas lights are bright and beautiful, there is one Light that outshines them all, one that is of infinite value and will not fit on your tree. It is Jesus. He boldly identified Himself as the Light of men. In the opening of his gospel, John first tells us that Jesus was the Word, the source of all creation. He then reveals Jesus as the source of light and life for all mankind that has come into His creation to bring light and restore life. While this world may seem rather dark sometimes, the power of the light comes from the source that created all things. There is no power of darkness that is greater than the power of the light. God has called us to be beacons of His light, drawing people to Christ and shifting the atmospheres of darkness

While Christmas lights are bright and beautiful, there is one Light that outshines them all, one that is of infinite value and will not fit on your tree. It is Jesus. He boldly identified Himself as the Light of men. In the opening of his gospel, John first tells us that Jesus was the Word, the source of all creation. He then reveals Jesus as the source of light and life for all mankind that has come into His creation to bring light and restore life. While this world may seem rather dark sometimes, the power of the light comes from the source that created all things. There is no power of darkness that is greater than the power of the light. God has called us to be beacons of His light, drawing people to Christ and shifting the atmospheres of darkness

One of the beautiful things that 3 John does is to paint a practical picture of everything John has admonished us to do—cling to truth, love the children of God, and encourage others in holiness. One of the sobering things about this short letter is how plainly it depicts the behavior that John has warned against. We may not consider ourselves hateful people, but we all struggle with feelings of pride and self-centeredness. We need to be careful to follow the example of those like Gaius, whose words and actions align with the Word of Truth. And we are to beware of others, such as Diotrephes, whose behavior is far from the truth and example taught by Jesus. We need to surrender our pride and pursue the profound love of God and love of others.

One of the beautiful things that 3 John does is to paint a practical picture of everything John has admonished us to do—cling to truth, love the children of God, and encourage others in holiness. One of the sobering things about this short letter is how plainly it depicts the behavior that John has warned against. We may not consider ourselves hateful people, but we all struggle with feelings of pride and self-centeredness. We need to be careful to follow the example of those like Gaius, whose words and actions align with the Word of Truth. And we are to beware of others, such as Diotrephes, whose behavior is far from the truth and example taught by Jesus. We need to surrender our pride and pursue the profound love of God and love of others.