A Light Unto Our Lives

Prayer-Soldier · Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 3:25 pm Post subject: A Light Unto Our Lives

A Light Unto Our Lives

Scripture:

Arise, be enlightened, O Jerusalem: for your light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold darkness shall cover the earth, and a mist the people: but the Lord shall arise upon you, and his glory shall be seen upon you. And the Gentiles shall walk in your light, and kings in the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes round about, and see: all these are gathered together, they are come to you: your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall rise up at your side. Then shall you see, and abound, and your heart shall wonder and be enlarged, when the multitude of the sea shall be converted to you, the strength of the Gentiles shall come to you. The multitude of camels shall cover you, the dromedaries of Madian and Epha: all they from Saba shall come, bringing gold and frankincense: and showing forth praise to the Lord.
(Isaiah 60:1-6)

If yet you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me towards you: How that, according to revelation, the mystery has been made known to me.

Which in other generations was not known to the sons of men, as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit: That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs and of the same body: and co-partners of his promise in Christ Jesus, by the gospel.
(Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6)

When Jesus therefore was born in Bethlehem of Juda, in the days of king Herod, behold, there came wise men from the East to Jerusalem, saying: Where is he that is born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and are come to adore him. And king Herod hearing this, was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And assembling together all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where Christ should be born. But they said to him: In Bethlehem of Juda. For so it is written by the prophet: And you Bethlehem the land of Juda are not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of you shall come forth the captain that shall rule my people Israel.

Then Herod, privately calling the wise men learned diligently of them the time of the star which appeared to them; and sending them into Bethlehem, said: Go and diligently inquire after the child, and when you have found him, bring me word again, that I also may come and adore him. Who having heard the king, went their way; and behold the star which they had seen in the East, went before them, until it came and stood over where the child was. And seeing the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And entering into the house, they found the child with Mary his mother, and falling down they adored him: and opening their treasures, they offered him gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having received an answer in sleep that they should not return to Herod, they went back another way into their country.
(Matthew 2:1-12)

Reflection:

One might wonder, how can the days of so many centuries past be real to us; a time which we did not live and yet reaches out to us through the generations? Our nature is that we want to experience everything within our life time, for what is the meaning of anything we cannot see, touch, or influence ourselves? We did not cause most of the past and we do not know the future. Our struggle is only for the moment, but God looks over and transcends the generations of His creation. He reaches out so all might experience Him, yet so many fail to see the many ways He works within their lives. His plan unfolds before us, but we must look to what once was if we are to comprehend what is now and that which will be.

His call is to us; a call to fulfill our responsibility. It is the same call He made to the generations before us; the call to pass His Word from heart to heart so we might share in the knowledge of His wisdom, so we might know His love. It is ours to see the fulfilling of prophesies, but it is also ours to prepare the generations to come after us so they may see and prepare others as well.

What was, is, and ever shall be cannot be experienced in only a few moments when it was designed to be passed from generation to generation; each one adding to the story as they develop in their relationship with their Creator. What was not revealed to one shall be revealed to another to they may share, for the plan of God is not that we shall live in isolation, but that we shall share of His blessings. He did not create one, but all. We, therefore, cannot deny our ancestry. We cannot deny our common bond. We cannot deny that all the children of His creation are heirs to His promise and all which His Word reveals.

And so it was, and so it came to pass, God gave a great gift to the children of His creation; the gift of His only begotten Son. Happiness and joy should fill every heart, for the Light sent to the peoples, but there are those who do not care for the Light. There are those who do not comprehend the Gift. There are those who do not look to what is to come, they only see their objectives in the moment, so they fail to prepare for the blessings which could be theirs if they only allowed themselves to be guided by the Light.

Let us fear not the schemes of the world, for what we experience here shall one day become part of what fills the the empty void. Instead, let us rejoice for the blessings to come. Let us rejoice that we have the opportunity to experience the blessings of the love of our Creator. Let us look to the Light and allow the Holy Spirit to grow within our hearts so His warmth may be felt throughout the world. Let us not feed the powers of darkness, rather, let us rejoice in thanks and praise for the Light sent as the beacon of love and joy.

Questions for further reflection:

In what ways are we able to learn about the Light sent unto us?

In what ways may we seek to learn and comprehend the promises of Christ?

In what ways may we demonstrate our thanks and praise for the gift of the Christ child?

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier