Our Daily Bread: Jesus Light of the WorldSample

The Light of Life

Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you. -Isaiah 60:1

Our church meets on the first Sunday of Advent for a Christingle service followed by a tea party. England at this time of year can feel damp and dreary, so embracing the light of Christ through the symbol of a Christingle brings not only cheer but also hope.

As the church is darkened, we sit in expectant silence as each child holds a Christingle, which is an orange tied with a red ribbon. It has a lighted white candle on top and is poked with four toothpicks holding raisins. The orange symbolizes the world, the candle points to the light of Christ, the red ribbon marks His blood, and the raisins represent the fruits of the earth.

Seeing the many flames dotted around the room makes me thankful for Christ’s light in the darkness.

God told His people, the Israelites, that He was their light: “The glory of the Lord rises to shine on you” (Isaiah 60:1).

Although the earth had been shrouded in darkness, God would beckon nations to Himself through His light in their midst (vv. 2–3). In the New Testament, God’s Son, Jesus, revealed Himself as the light of the world, saying that whoever follows Him will never walk in darkness (John 8:12).

If we feel like we’re surrounded by darkness, we can trust that God shines His light through Jesus. We can hold on to the truth that with Him we’ll always have the light of life.

By Amy Boucher Pye

How has Jesus brought light into your life? How could you share His light with others today?

Jesus, light of the world, shine on me, that I might spread Your light in my community.