The Complete Package

~~~ 1 John 2:3-11 ~~~ Psalm 96 ~~~ Luke 2:22-35 ~~~

This is the way we may know that 

we are in union with him:

whoever claims to abide in him 

ought to walk just as he walked.

Here is what we so often seem to forget...

Are our actions truly those of Jesus?

Do we ever stop ourselves and observe 

what our actions reveal about our relationship with Jesus?

It is easy to justify whatever our actions reveal.

We say things to ourselves to make ourselves feel better...

like they got what was coming to them...

I was just kidding...

I couldn't help myself...

it happened so quickly, I did not have time to think...

To walk just as Jesus walked is no easy task.

It takes self control and vigilance of ones actions.

It requires that our thoughts come from love.

Whoever says he is in the light,

yet hates his brother, is still in the darkness. 

Jesus is the true light. His birth broke the chains of darkness,

yet how often do we find ourselves trapped 

in the darkness...we turn away from the light.

We live in a world where the darkness

 seems to outweigh the light.

We know in our hearts that the light will prevail,

yet the darkness hovers over our world.

We must persevere as bearers of the light.

We must carry our light no matter how it weak it flickers.

We must guard our light from extinction.

We must protect our light by remaining close 

to the primary source, Jesus.

Simeon revealed that Jesus was the light.

“Lord, now let your servant go in peace;

your word has been fulfilled:

my own eyes have seen the salvation

which you prepared in the sight of every people,

a light to reveal you to the nations

and the glory of your people Israel.”

Jesus is the complete package...

he is the salvation and the light for all of mankind.

Since the birth of Jesus there have been no missing pieces.

He was born to deliver to us everything

 we would ever need to attain 

eternal life with him in heaven.

Mary and Joseph followed the prescribed ritual 

of presenting their child Jesus to the Lord in the temple.

Jesus, sent down to dwell among us by the Father, was then

consecrated back to God in the temple.

Let us rejoice with Simeon...

for a child of great light has been born unto us.

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!

Come let us adore the one who brings us the light...

the one who sustains our light.

The closer we are to his light 

the brighter our light will be...

the longer our light will shine for others.

Come close to this child of wonder his blessings 

make the world a better place.

Participate in his light...

~~~Peace and Joy~~~