Devotion Booklets for Seasons of the Church Year 2016 | Page 12

Saturday—December 3rd

Reflect
Matthew 4:12-16
The Welsh poet W.H. Davies posed the question, “What is life if full of care, we have not time
to stand and stare?” How often the significant escapes our notice because we are too
preoccupied with the insignificant! That could be the case with even the great Light of whom
Isaiah prophesied. The significant is the Light of the world entering this world darkened by sin
and death. But how quickly even that can be overshadowed by the insignificant.
It was no different while the Light of the world was walking in this world. In Galilee, many first
saw the Light of our Savior, including the first disciples. But not everyone stopped to stand
and stare at the Light of the world then or there either. Rather than noticing the wonderment
of a great Light, they noticed that he was a seemingly insignificant local carpenter's son from
Nazareth, a brother, a relative, a fellow Galilean. Sadly, for many, the wonderment was missed.
Maybe it’s not surprising that the wonder of light is missed. The same happens with light which
is easily deconstructed into properties of intensity, wavelength, particles, and speed. A rainbow
is less marvelous when it is explained by water particles and light refraction. The light of
fireflies at night loses its mystique and romanticism when seen as a simple chemical reaction.
And our experiences from living in this darkened world can leave us disappointed and
disenchanted with Jesus. His dawning light can be so rarely seen in our lives shadowed by sin
and death.
Maybe it is time to stand and stare this Advent season. These scientific explanations of light
cannot begin to reduce the miracle of light. So it is also with our Savior Jesus. The light of our
Savior can be ignored and overlooked, but cannot be reduced to mere explanation. Stop to
stand and stare at this Light - the Word made flesh. Stand and stare at the author, the bringer,
and the source of light, even if he seems to just be the son of a carpenter from Nazareth. Take
time to stand and stare at what your God has done for you. For you he perfectly lived,
innocently died, and gloriously rose so that, when you start to feel disappointed and
disenchanted in this dark world, you can always see his great light. Isaiah’s prophecy is not just
fulfilled in Jesus’ work and words in Galilee, but also in you who see your Savior in his
Word. Do not pass over the significance of that miracle. Reflect on it. Reflect it to others.
PRAYER:
Jesus, help me never to lose the wonderment of what you have done for me. Be my light in
this dark world. Use my life to point others to your light so that they too may see. Amen.
ACTIVITY:

Personally invite someone walking in the darkness of unbelief to your congregation's
Christmas services.

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