Christmas Lights

Take a moment and imagine if you were to see electric lights for the first time.  They must have been so different, so much brighter than just candles. 

Imagine you are driving down the street in October – do you ever notice a simple porch light outside?  How much more bright and noticeable are Christmas lights!

Light of the World 

Matthew 5:14–16 

[14] “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. [15] Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. [16] In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (ESV) 

We experienced a power outage earlier this week.  It lasted a few hours but it became an emergency in the house. No coffee maker! But lighting candles brought real and needed light into the house.  They really stood out.  If you live in a time when there were no light bulbs inside, no street lights, no car headlights outside, no light pollution, no artificial lights anywhere – how much does a lamp in a dark home really light things up! 

Just as electric lights first stood out compared to candles, just as an amazing Christmas light display stands out, just as a candle in a world without electric lights stands out — we must stand out in that way as followers of Jesus and God.  Our words and actions must stand out all the greater!