Let Our Light Shine

Saturday, November 28, 2015
Listen to this devotional:
Listen while you read: "Rejoice And Be Glad"1 (Lyrics)

John 12:46 – I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. (NKJV)

John 1:5 – The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out. (GNT)

Advent begins tomorrow, November 29th, in this year of our Lord Jesus Christ, 2015. One of the features of Advent in many churches is an Advent wreath, with a candle lit on each of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. No thanks to the terrorists of this world, what is desperately needed is some light, specifically The Light, who is none other than Christ Jesus. The candles remind us that Christ is the light that this very dark world needs. It decidedly needs the peace which passes understanding that can be gained only by coming to the Prince of Peace Himself, none other than Jesus Christ. When the world accepts Him and His way of living, then and only then, will this world find real peace.

This became evident on November 13th, 2015, when terrorists tore apart Paris, France, the city known to honeymooners everywhere as the city of love, killing over 129 people. Likewise, we were reminded by commentators that on October 31st, 2015, a jet airbus crashed in the Sinai Peninsula, killing 224 people, including an infant, an act attributed to terrorists. More recently, attacks in Africa and threats in Belgium continue to cause anxiety and heartbreak in the world.

Thus, we clearly see that what this violence-torn world needs most desperately is peace, but not the wishy-washy peace that capitulates to darkness while cowering in a corner in an attempt to gain peace at any price, but instead true peace — the peace which knowing Christ Jesus brings.

The hope of this writer centres on the return of Christ in person when He sets His feet upon the Mount of Olives and institutes His reign of peace. At that point, because Christ, Who is the light of this world, will have come once again, this world will be permeated with the peace that passes understanding.

Until that day, let us attempt to be little lights that point to Christ Who is the true and only way out of the darkness for everyone. Jesus Himself said,

Matthew 5:16 – Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in heaven. (NKJV)

Therefore, let us pray:

  • for this dark world to be flooded with the light of Christ;
  • for the wounded to be healed;
  • for the mourners to be comforted;
  • for peace to prevail in this violence-riddled world.

Prayer: Father God, we lift this terribly fractured world into the light of Your love, praying for peace and for the healing of those who are wounded, crushed in bodies, confused in their minds, suffering broken hearts, and wandering this world with lost souls. We pray especially for those impacted by recent violence and war. Lord God, grant us peace, for we pray in the name of the Prince of Peace, Your Son our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

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About the author:

Cassandra Wessel <casswessel4319@gmail.com>
Tionesta, Pennsylvania, USA

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1 Comment

  • PresbyCan Feedback says:

    Wonderful reminder Cass. Have a Merry Christmas.


    Amen to your timely message today! Come, Lord Jesus, come.


    Thank you for letting your light shine so brightly for all to see, may God Bless You.


    Amen to your prayer! I totally agree there can be no real peace in this world without the Prince of Peace. May we be comforted by the hope and promise of His return.
    Blessings.


    A timely message Cass,
    During these end times, the one thing we need is more Light.
    May God keep you strong until His return.
    God bless you and your ministry.


    Dear Cassandra,
    A very needed devotional. Thank you.
    I pray with you for the peace of our Lord and his grace to be known throughout the world.
    Keep writing.


    Dear Cass,
    Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us today. We wait for true peace when our Lord returns. What’s so special and comforting is His peace given to us when we allow Him to live through us as we go through our earthly journey.


    Ms Wessel, thanks for illuminating how we should respond to the darkness of the past while, both that of the terrorists and of the refugees who have arisen from Gulf War I & II and Arab Spring. However, so much terror has been waged by the fanatics of Wahhabi Sunni Islam (who also can’t wait to cause the war of Armageddon and welcome Jesus’ return!), that you omitted the killing of ~45 in Beirut the day before the killing of 129 in Paris. You may also wish to listen to this CBC radio documentary about the most vulnerable refugees – children:
    http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the-current-for-november-3-2015-1.3301140
    I was sobbing so much when I came in from listening to it while gardening that my wife couldn’t understand me. The worst part is that I can think of nothing to do to help, aside from presenting it at Worship as a Moment of Mission. I’m told that I’m too old to be allowed to adopt even 1 child with my extended family.
    In Canada, most of us are descendants of refugees, from the First Nations who migrated north after the glaciers left, through Champlain looking to establish refuge for French Protestants, to the Loyalists driven out of the new USA in 1784, and many more since then. USA history is similar. (ON.)


    HI Cass,
    Once again your words so well describe my heart’s prayer for those who do not know our Jesus, and are wandering, physically and spiritually, looking for something or someone to fill the emptiness or ease the pain of their lives.
    Our world is in such pain, chaos and confusion, and at times I feel like the Dutch boy who stuck his finger in the leak in the dyke in hopes of stopping a flood.
    We know the only answer is Jesus, but it almost seems that people continue to stick their fingers in their ears.
    Keep writing my friend.

 



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