Covenant News
Advent Devotion: Christmas the Theme of "Lights"
CHICAGO, IL (December 19, 2003) - Covenant Communications has posted several Advent devotionals from more than 250 monthly church newsletters and emails. This one is from Bill Clark, pastor of Redeemer Covenant Church, Tulsa, Oklahoma....We are nearing Christmas as Advent begins to fade away. Of course, commercially we have been nearing Christmas since the day after Halloween. There is no point lamenting the premature celebration of Jesus' birth - that's a tired song. But we miss something by not lingering in Advent - the season of waiting and anticipation. We need an extended time of examination before we celebrate. I urge all of us to ponder during the days that remain before Christmas the theme of "lights."
Not only will we continue to enjoy the literal lights of the season, but we will be made aware of the vast number of lesser lights that cry out for our attention in the next few days. Another trip to the mall, another task to cross off our list, yet another conversation about the holiday schedule - all of these will occupy our minds until the crashing anticlimax of December 26.
So here's the question: When will we pay attention to the greater light? When will the light of God's presence be rediscovered in a season that's supposed to be holy. I urge us all to stop sometime each day and ponder again the mystery of the promise that Emmanuel has come to ransom the captives. He still seeks the seeker and looks for the lost. He could have stayed in the comfortable confines of heaven. He could have ignored the people's cry.
Instead, "God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that it might be saved through him" (John 3:17). May the bright light of this truth shine supremely until Christmas comes.
To read devotionals posted earlier, visit the following: