By Rusty Potter
Christmas lights are everywhere this time of year. We love lights because they brighten the darkness. They remind us that Christmas is a season of hope.
Jesus is the light of the world. Whoever follows him will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. This is the true meaning of Christmas. The baby born in Bethlehem came to bring light to every soul and situation. We celebrate His birth because He continues to shine today.
Christmas is not only about receiving gifts. It is about reflecting that light into the world around us.
There are people all around us living in darkness this holiday season. Some are battling grief. Some are lonely. Some feel forgotten or financially strained. Some are smiling on the outside, but hurting on the inside.
They need light.
Your light.
A kind word can brighten a heart. A plate of food can lift a spirit. A gift, a visit, a prayer, a phone call – these are beams of love that point people toward the One who is the source of all light.
I was reminded of this when thinking about my mom, Mrs. Caroline Potter. She always preferred 100-watt light bulbs. She didn’t like dim rooms. She believed light made everything better.
Christmas is a good time to live that way.
This season, don’t be a 25-watt believer. Don’t hide your light under a lampshade. Shine like those 100-watt bulbs my mother loved. Be bold. Be bright.
The world has enough darkness. What it needs is people who choose to reflect the light of Christ.
When we care for one another, we celebrate the Prince of Peace. When we serve others, we honor the One whose birth changed the world. Christ did not come so we could keep the light to ourselves. He came so we could carry it into every corner of our community.
This Christmas, make it your mission to shine. Wherever God places you – at home, at work, at church, in the grocery store – be someone’s light. Be that 100-watt blessing to a soul who needs it.
Jesus is the light of the world.
Let His light shine through you.
