His Glorious Light

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"Who would've thought thousands of years ago;

An only star would set the world aglow;

Twinkling and shining on a moonlit night;

Showing forth the Father's magnificent light.

Years before the constellations were done;

He placed one North star to guide to his Son;

Definitely one of heavens great wonders;

The North Star which led those to the Savior!"

- excerpt from "Stars in the Heavens" by Patricia Joan Polhans

Long ago, people relied on the stars in the sky to guide them along the way during dark, ill-lit nights. Sailors, merchant caravans, even lonely sheepherders depended on the starry guides up above to lead them safely on their journey.

Matthew 2: 2 (NKJV) tells us that after Jesus was born in Bethlehem, wise men from the East arrived in Jerusalem inquiring about the newborn King of the Jews. They were prompted to travel there by the appearance of "his star."

They took this star as a sign that a king was born. Over many years there have been debates about what the star was or wasn't. Our focus, is on the light that served to announce and point to Jesus' birth.

Until that time, humanity was literally intrenched in darkness; namely, spiritual darkness. That supremely, bright light in the sky, "his star," proclaimed the arrival of the one True Light on earth (John 1:9). 

When John the Baptist said that Jesus is the true light, he was referring back to the anticipated Messiah that Israel's prophets had predicted (Isaiah 9:2). Jesus alone exhibits God's glory in the world. He is God incarnate (in human form) who came to live with us.

The light He (Jesus) brought to us is "the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being" (Hebrews 1:3). Jesus emanates the best of God; His: light, truth, and way of living into our hearts.

When we accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we recognize that He is that light. He allows us to see and know the glory of God (2 Corinthians 4:6). And that as Christians, we are to proclaim the light of Jesus in the darkness of this broken world.

There are many in this world that have an urgent need for His light at this very moment. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, let us not forget that His light was meant to be shared and not kept hidden away (Luke 8:16).

Remember always, "Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).

Scripture: Revelation 21:23; John 8:12; John 9:5; Isaiah 49:6; Psalm 36:9

Prayer: "Restore us, O Lord God of hosts! Let your face shine, that we may be saved!"  - Psalm 80:19

In His name always,

Emily