Today Daily Devotional

The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.

— Revelation 21:24

In Genesis 1, God’s first creation is light. Amazingly this first light appears in the darkness before the sun, moon, and stars are even created. Today’s passage echoes Genesis 1: “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.” God’s glory is the source of light, and Jesus is the vessel through which God’s light shines in all its brilliance!

This passage about God’s new creation can make us feel like it’s the first day of creation all over again, a fresh start. But that brings up a question: What if we sin again? We’re still human. Won’t we make a mess of this new creation just as we have done with the current one?

As if anticipating that question, God shows John that the nature of human relationships, of kings and kingdoms, will be transformed. “The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.” Through Jesus Christ, God is bringing about a new creation in which the power struggle to control resources and the distrust and hatred between people groups no longer exists. The whole of this new creation delights in God’s goodness and lives together as stewards of God’s creation! What a day that will be!

Creator God, thank you for making the future of this peaceable kingdom secure in Jesus Christ. As we celebrate Jesus’ birth, teach us also to look forward to his coming kingdom with joy-filled confidence. Amen.

His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.

— Revelation 1:16

As Jesus taught and as John experienced, following Jesus will likely mean that others will resist and reject us. In some places, identifying with Jesus might even lead to prison, beatings, and death. The darkness of people who are opposed to the light of Christ can be powerful and violent. John notes here that as followers of Christ we are companions in suffering and, as well, in “patient endurance” as we await Jesus’ return.

John knew Jesus. He had lived with Jesus for three years. He was there at Jesus’ transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-8). He saw Jesus after the resurrection and when Jesus ascended into heaven. John knew what Jesus looked like. But none of that prepared John for when Jesus showed up in all his brilliance. John fell down like a dead man.

Yet in this encounter Jesus immediately extended hope, saying, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever!”

Jesus said this to John, and he says it to us. Death, the greatest weapon that is opposed to God’s abundant life, has not diminished Jesus. The present darkness that we experience has already lost the war. Jesus’ reign has begun. He is alive and overflowing with more glory and light than we could ever imagine.

Lord Jesus, strengthen us with certainty in your victory over death. Give us glimpses of your brilliance to sustain us now, even as we look forward to the fullness of your presence. Amen.

So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

— Romans 13:12

Our Advent and Christmas celebrations teach us to look in two directions at the same time. We look back to remember how God sent Jesus as the light of the world so that we might become children of the light, God’s children. We also look ahead to when Jesus will return and fulfill his work of making all things new.

Writing to the early followers of Jesus in Rome, Paul urges them: “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.” In a way like John, Paul teaches that “love does no harm to a neighbor.” This is the light of Christ living in us.

But Paul frames this command not simply as a response to what God has already done in Jesus. A forward-looking urgency comes into view as well: “The night is nearly over; the day is almost here.” This is not a threatening, fear-inducing urgency meant to guilt us into grudgingly loving others. Rather, this is joy-filled, overflowing excitement that leads to action. Jesus is almost here! Let’s get ready for his arrival!

How do we do that? We get dressed. “Let us put aside the deeds of darkness”—any behavior and attitude that can harm our neighbors—“and put on the armor of light”—love for our neighbors, through which the love of Christ is fulfilled in us.

Holy Spirit, we are excited for Jesus to come back! As we look forward to that day, help us to clothe ourselves with the love of Christ in each and every relationship we have. Amen.

Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble.

— 1 John 2:10

How do we know what it looks like to walk in the light of Jesus Christ? Throughout this letter, John repeatedly notes two things, asking, in effect: Do we believe that Jesus is God, and do we love the people we can see? In our reading for today, John brings these two together as he writes, “This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.” In other words, believing in Jesus leads to living like Jesus.

Using the imagery of light and darkness again, John explains that hate for our brothers and sisters does not fit with the light of Jesus’ life. Rather, a lack of love for others is evidence that we are still living “in the darkness.” Holding on to hate leads us further and further into darkness. Yet the opposite is also true. The more we love others, the more we live as Jesus did. John even makes the claim that when Jesus’ followers love their brothers and sisters, “there is nothing in them to make them stumble.” The light of God’s love living within us leads us to embrace a life of love for others.

Jesus said, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35).

God, we want the light of Jesus to shine brightly in and through us. Teach us to live and love as Jesus did. Amen.

“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

— Matthew 5:16

Speaking to the crowds that have gathered to hear him, Jesus declares: “You are the light of the world.” Jesus, the light of the world, is placing his own title onto the crowds. In doing so, he transfers his identity to them. Similar to when God directed Aaron to bless the Israelites and put his name on them, Jesus repeatedly blesses the crowds throughout the first part of this passage. Then he gives his identity to them. They are the light of the world, because Jesus has chosen them to be his light in the world.

Jesus makes clear that this new identity is not intended to be hidden or kept private. Rather, the people’s new identity in Jesus is to be as bright as a city on a hill—visible for all to see. He adds that their light is made known through their good deeds and will lead others to glorify God.

Yesterday we celebrated Jesus as the light of the world, signaling the start of God’s new creation. Today we see that God has saved us in Jesus in order to shine the light of Jesus through the way we live. Though our actions do not save us, our good deeds and our sharing of God’s love help others to believe that God’s new creation has become real and available to us in Jesus Christ.

God, help us to celebrate Jesus’ birth by making the light of Jesus more real and believable through lives that shine brightly, reflecting your love and goodness in the beauty of your new creation in Christ. Amen.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

— John 1:5

Everything has led to this moment: Jesus is born!

John frames the announcement of Jesus’ birth through the lens of the creation story. Borrowing from Genesis 1, John writes “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John states clearly that Jesus is fully God. This passage also makes clear that Jesus is fully human: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” In Jesus, God became one with us!

Also connecting with the creation story is God’s light that “shines in the darkness”—as well as the insight that “the darkness has not overcome it.” Though Jesus is the “true light that gives light to everyone,” not everyone recognizes or receives him. Yet to all who respond to the light of Christ, he gives them “the right to become children of God.”

By leaning into the creation language from Genesis, John declares that Jesus’ birth is the start of God’s new creation! In Jesus, God has created a new humanity, and he invites us into the light and life of this new creation by receiving Jesus.

Will we receive Jesus today? Will we be part of God’s new humanity and step into the light of God’s grace and truth?

God, help us to recognize and receive Jesus today. Make us like him so that we too may overflow with the light of your grace and truth. Amen.

“Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

— Luke 2:15

The shepherds are relatively obscure actors in this story. We don’t know their names. We’re not sure if they are hired hands or tending their own flocks. They hear the angel’s announcement of Jesus’ birth. They run to find Jesus. And after they return to their flocks, we don’t hear from them again.

Even so, the shepherds pull me further into this story. They begin in a rather ordinary space, “living out in the fields” with their sheep. When the angel suddenly appears, they are terrified! Who wouldn’t be? Nothing could have prepared them to meet angels shining the light of God’s glory in the middle of a field at night. Then quickly they move from terror to wonder to delight and finally to joyful worship. By the end of the night, the shepherds are the first human messengers to share the good news of Jesus’ birth! Like the people whom the shepherds first told about Jesus, I am amazed at what I hear.

After the angelic choir disappears, the shepherds urge each other: “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” What else could they do? As I read this story again, I find myself responding to the shepherds: “Yes! Let’s go and see, looking into the amazing good news of the child who has been born in Bethlehem!”

God, whether we’ve read this story before or we are hearing it for the first time, awaken in us the joy and wonder of the good news of Jesus’ birth! Amen.

Whoever lives by the truth comes into the light. . . .

— John 3:21

With Jesus’ birthday celebration just two days away, this is a fitting time for us to remember why Jesus came into the world. This passage begins with the memorable declaration “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son. . . .” Because of his great love, God sent Jesus.

John’s gospel also tells us that Jesus came into the world as a matter of life and death: “. . . that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John also clarifies that Jesus’ purpose is to save the world, not to condemn it. In these verses we see that Jesus’ saving work has both personal (“whoever believes”) and cosmic (“the world”) audiences in view. Jesus’ birth is good news for you and me and for the whole of God’s creation! God wants us to be saved for eternity.

Finally, God’s desire is that people will live by the light of Jesus’ life. John contrasts people who live in the light with those who live in darkness, noting that “people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.” Darkness is a way of life. But so is the light. “Whoever lives by the truth comes into the light.” Jesus came into the world so that we can embrace God’s way of life as our own here and now.

God, thank you for your amazing love that has sent Jesus. We could not save ourselves. Help us to live by the light of Jesus forever. Amen.

“The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me.”

— John 12:45

Sometimes when I read the Bible’s stories about Jesus, I am baffled at the doubts, disbelief, and outright opposition that people showed in response to Jesus. What more did Jesus need to do for people to believe? How many more miracles? How many more people had to be healed or raised from the dead? Matthew 28:17 tells us that even some of Jesus’ closest disciples doubted after Jesus himself had risen from the dead!

I have also wondered if I would have recognized Jesus if I had met him. I’d like to think I would. But the Bible includes lots of accounts showing that people with the most religious training, the ones who should have quickly recognized Jesus, were also among those who had the most difficult time believing in him. What would I need to see Jesus do in order to believe that he is really God? Maybe it would have to be a particular miracle or a certain level of wisdom that confronted my assumptions. This question becomes even more challenging when I think about Jesus being born as a vulnerable baby in the backcountry of an occupied territory. Would I recognize him then?

Jesus says that “the one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me.” When we look at Jesus, we are seeing God. As we celebrate Christmas, are we willing to see God the Creator of heaven and earth in the face of Jesus?

Jesus, the signs and wonders of your kingdom are amazing. Help us to recognize you for who you really are: God with us! Amen.

You are a chosen people . . . that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

— 1 Peter 2:9

As a pastor and teacher, I have met with many people who have wondered, “What is God’s will for my life?” Many of us deeply desire to know where we belong and what our purpose in life is.

Peter describes God’s calling on us in terms of two movements. First, God calls us “out of darkness.” The reality is that we can’t see God’s purposes for us when we are caught up in the darkness of our own sin. God calls us out of the behaviors and perspectives that diminish the abundant life he offers to us through Jesus Christ.

Second, God calls us “into his wonderful light.” Jesus is calling us into a new way of life and a new identity that is characterized by a genuine, lavish love for our neighbors and enemies alike. We are called to “live such good lives” that people may see our actions “and glorify God on the day he visits us.” The light that God calls us into in Christ is not simply to help us see God more clearly but also to help people around us to recognize God’s goodness through us.

Our Christmas celebration is not simply about remembering Jesus’ birth. It is a radical calling to live throughout the year as people who share and shine the wonderful light of Jesus Christ in this dark world.

God, in your great mercy, lead us out of sin and darkness and into the light and life of Jesus Christ so that we and the whole world might praise you for who you are! Amen.