Every Good Gift: A 28-Day Advent DevotionalSample

For many, Christmas lights are a favourite part of the holiday season. Twinkling lights in frosted windows, the warm glow of the Christmas tree in the corner, favourite holiday candles flickering merrily and streets aglow with rows of cheerful strings of lights. It is a hallmark of the season. Light is an important part of Christmas.

Light is an important part of God, too. We see that all throughout Scripture. In fact, we can see it in our verse for this week:

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

If we are honest, so many people’s lives are like the shifting shadows like James describes. Our world feels unstable, unsteady and dark. Things change. People change. Hope, joy and peace are lost in the darkness of a world without God.

But, God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5)

Jesus told us, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12, emphasis added) 

God is light and love. Advent reminds us of this. God gave us His Son because He loves us and Jesus is the light of the world that overcomes the darkness. It is because of God’s love that He shines His light in our lives, giving us good gifts such as hope, peace and joy. It is love that shines the light of God into people’s lives.

“Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining. Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble” (1 John 2:8-11, emphasis added)

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:7-11, emphasis added)

Love lights up the darkness. And in a season where we are surrounded by the warmth of Christmas lights, may we choose to shine the heavenly light of our Father who has shown us how to love through giving good gifts.

Prayer:

Father of heavenly lights, as I look around in this season, I am surrounded by the beauty of light. Let the lights in my home, in the streets and places I go remind me to love others like You have loved me. Your love is one that dispels darkness and brings the good gifts of hope, peace and joy into our lives. May I reflect Your heart in the gifts I give and the light I shine this Christmas. Amen.