By GFI Board Member, Nancy Pettit
Merry Christmas from the board of Global Faith. My hope this Christmas is that you know Jesus as the light and giver of life and humbly bow down to Him with joyous worship as your Lord and Savior and most treasured friend. What does the Bible say about why Christmas happened in our human history over 2000 years ago? 1 John 3:5, 8 tells us that sinless Jesus appeared to rescue us from our sins and to destroy the works of the devil—the great liar, deceiver, and murderer. Later Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12) After so much darkness of the human heart and rebellion of God’s ways in the Old Testament, can you imagine the spectacular, dazzling light show the shepherds experienced the night of the birth of God-man Jesus? Luke 2:9 says, “And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them.” Then, fast forward to Jesus’s ministry when disciples Peter, James, and John saw the divine inherent light of Jesus’ breakthrough on a high mountain. Matt 17:1-13 says, “And He (Jesus) was transfigured before them, and His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as light.” Wow! This amazing light show must have given the disciples confidence to walk with God Jesus despite the suffering, rejection, and hatred thrown their way by the scoffers of Jesus.
As you drive around your area this Christmas season and see all the brilliant displays of light on homes and trees, hopefully, your mind will think of the presence of bright, warm Jesus and His sacrificial life to save sinners and to defeat Satan’s kingdom of darkness. In John 3:19-21, Jesus plainly states that those who reject this divine light will bring judgment upon themselves. You must believe and trust in Jesus and His mission to save you from your sins. May your Christmas be bright as you ponder the mystery and wonder of God-made flesh to light the world and rescue His people of faith.