Monday, December 22 Read Luke 1:34-35
* Note: Today’s and tomorrow’s devotion is from “The Christ of Christmas” by Calvin Miller (B&H, 2006)
“There was a man named John who was sent from God. He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light.” (John 1:6-9)
His name was John. He was born to be the forerunner of Christ, born to bear witness of the light. In a way, John was like us. We, too, have been born to bear witness of that light. Each time we approach the Advent season, we become joyously occupied with celebrating what the light has done in our lives. While John the Baptist was the first person called to be a witness of that light, His calling has become ours.
John knew people would always be critical of the light. The light has always had to shine in a darkness that fails to appreciate it. Still, though the darkness rejects it, the light of witness shines still.
What does it mean to be a witness of the light? It simply means that we point to Jesus and say, “See, Jesus is the light of the world!” How did John the Baptist do this? Well, when he first saw Jesus coming to the Jordan River, he pointed to Him and cried, “Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the One I told you about.” John’s job was not to coerce those around him to accept his announcement as truth. Nor did Jesus expect him to make believers all by himself. Like John, we cannot make believers. Believers make themselves by voluntarily coming to faith, one at a time.
But like John, we can point to Christ and say with all of our hearts, “Here is the Lamb of God!”
What if they do not believe us? No matter. We have done our best to tell them of God’s grace. God will never hold us accountable for being ineffective in pointing the way. But He will hold us accountable for our cowardly silences. Being an effective witness means that we call attention to our testimony and leave the results to Him. Anything else – anything less – is failing the expectations of God. We are born again; we must bear witness!
Scripture for Today: Acts 1:6-11
Christmas is a door thrown open, a season like few others. Christ is the first part of the word Christmas – a syllable of joy on everyone’s tongue. Are your eyes open wide? Is your heart alive with the hope of pointing someone to a gift like none other? Promise you’ll be watching, listening, sharing. This Christmas, keep your light turned on.
Prayer: LORD, I want people around me to know that I believe You are the light of the world. I want to love You so much that people can see in my life – even if they never listen to my words – that I believe You are the light of the world. I know that making my witness visible, in and of itself, is not enough. I must have courage in the presence of my friends to point to You and say clearly, “Behold, the Lamb of God! Behold the light of the world.” If I continue to walk silently while others are walking in darkness, it is my own fault, for You, Jesus, are the light of my life – of all life. AMEN.