Christmas is almost here! Can you feel the excitement in the air? I must admit, even at my age, I just love this time of year. I love making gifts for people, having family and friends over, wrapping presents and counting down the days with my little ones.
Beyond the fun festivities the season brings, there is a deeper reason why Christmas is so special. Let’s read about it in John, chapter 3:
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
I am so moved by knowing that we aren’t merely celebrating Jesus’ birth, but also the light that it brought into a very dark world. John, chapter 1 tells us:
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.
It goes on to say:
9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.
Third Day has a beautiful song called, Jesus, Light of the World, that I’d love for you to listen to (or read the lyrics) if you have a few minutes.
One of the pastors at my church has been doing a series this month entitled, Light Has Come, and it so perfectly encapsulates the Hope, Joy, Peace, and Love that we can experience at Christmas and even throughout the year if we know Jesus.
We no longer have to live in the darkness of sin. As believers, we will still struggle with sin, but we are no longer bound by it. We are no longer slaves to it. Talk about Good News!
I am so thankful for the True Light that came into the world and changed it (and us) forever. I pray we have opportunities this Christmas to share and reflect that Light, which is our quest here at Goberadiant.
A big THANK YOU to all who have supported me this year in my blogging. Being radiant is not easy, but you have spurred me on in that area more than you know.
Wishing you a Christmas that is Merry and Bright and filled with Light – the Light of Jesus.
See you next year!
Go Be Radiant 
Good morning, Suzie. As you know I’ve been pretty sick this week and what you wrote about not being bound by sin gave me pause. My illness was of the body just as sin is illness of our soul. My illness this week made me feel helpless, isolated, irritable, and host of other unpleasant attributes. Our sin does the same thing in our walk with God. Feeling especially thankful for the Light of Christ! In the midst of all the yuck this week, a new granddaughter was born to us!
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Despite being terribly sick, God continues to give you deep, spiritual insight, which always blesses me. Sin truly is a sickness of the soul. I pray you are back to your normal self before you know it. In the meantime, may the joy of the Lord be your strength. Congratulations on your new granddaughter!!! What a precious gift! Much love to you and your family!
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