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As I mentioned last week, these next few posts are going to be Advent devotionals. We are in week 2, and today we are talking about the star. Actually, it's a reference to Jesus being the "Bright Morning Star" that we are going to focus on.
If you've ever had the pleasure of being out somewhere at night where there is "dark sky," you would have been treated to a phenomenal display of God's brilliant creation. In the absence of artificial light, the stars - thousands upon tens of thousands of them - pierce the void of space to illuminate the heavens. It will take your breath away!
Can you imagine how incredibly special, how unique, the star that appeared at Jesus' birth had to be? Among the vastness of the galaxies, it stood out, guiding both shepherds and wise men to the infant King of Kings. It was unlike any other, just as Jesus is "The One" unlike any other.
The Gospel of John talks a great deal about Jesus being the light of the world. In Chapter 8:12 John records Jesus' words, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
The shepherds followed. The wise men followed. We... are following.
What comfort there is in this verse, especially amidst all the concerns, division, sickness, and strife of the past couple of years. There has been an awful lot of darkness in the world of late. Unfortunately, it's nothing new. Because we live in a fallen world, we are guaranteed there will be trouble, pain, and heartache this side of heaven. We will all be touched by it.
Touched by it... but not harmed. Touched by it... but not overcome, because we also read in John Chapter 1:5, "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has NOT overcome it."
Jesus is our light. He is our Bright Morning Star. He came into this world to dispel the darkness.
Satan cannot stand. Satan cannot win where Jesus resides, and Jesus resides with us.
Worry can be dark. Lonliness can be dark. Illness can be dark. Death... is dark. Satan tries his best to knock us down, count us out, send us reeling into despair. He can try, but he will never succeed, because darkness is the thing that must flee when a match is struck, when a candle is lit. Think how he has to RUN when the Bright Morning Star, the Light of the World, shines brilliantly in our lives!
In Jesus, sin is overcome. Death is conquered. Satan is vanquished.
That.
That is reason to rejoice! How blessed we are that Jesus came. How thankful we are that He stays with us!
The hymn for this week is "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel." How beautifully this piece describes the richness of the Gospel message... and the meaning of His coming. Emmanuel means "God with us," and He IS... every moment of every day, dispelling the darkness with His light and promising that we will NEVER walk in darkness again.
I'm sharing my favorite verses here. He was born to save us. Oh, what victory we have in Him!
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse free/ Thine own from Satan's tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save/ And give them victory o'er the grave.
Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel/ Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer/ Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night/ And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel/ Shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Key of David, come/ And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high/ And close the path to misery.
Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel/ Shall come to thee, O Israel.
The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light. Rejoice!
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