Blessed Assurance

Listen to the song

This song was on my mind this morning. I grew up hearing it regularly in church. There's just something comforting and familiar about the song. It's a reminder of my rich heritage of believing family members. It's also a fond reminder of all the years sitting on a pew and hearing these great hymns of faith being sung by people I have called my church family. I know my parents thought I wasn't listening half the time, but I was. Kids hear more than adults think they hear.

Besides all of those memories, the words to this song are just so rich in meaning. In this world I have so very little assurance of anything or anyone. Nothing lasts. It's not easy to count on anyone or anything. But I do have a blessed assurance in Jesus Christ is as my Savior. I can praise Him even when things are not going quite right. I can be at rest in the midst of unrest. And one day I will see these wonderful visions of rapture unfolding before my eyes and angels descending from above. One day I will stand before my Savior and hope to hear, "Well done my faithful servant."

For now, I am watching and waiting, looking above. I am filled with His goodness and lost in His love. Yes, this is my story, this is my song!   

The Light of the World

Son of God love's pure light.

I was reflecting on the lyrics to Silent Night today as I heard an instrumental version being played. This particular line from the third verse of the song may not be as well known as the first verse, but it's packed full of hope and love.

Son of God
God came to earth in the fom of a baby, born in a humble location. 

Love
God came to earth all because of love.

Pure
Free from blemish, different than anything or anyone the world has ever known.

Light
Illumination for a dark world.

Jesus is Love's Pure Light

Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; 

he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, 

but will have the Light of life.” - John 8:12

This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, 

that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. - 1 John 1:5

And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light 

 of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; 

and they will reign forever and ever. - Revelation 22:5

As we celebrate the birth of the Messiah, take some time to reflect on more than just a baby in a manger. The Light of the World was born in a humble stable and eventually sacrificed his life on a cross to take on the sins of a dark world. Let's personalize it: He took on my sins and your sins. That IS real LOVE. That is what Christmas is all about.

Blessings to you.