• Lighting Candles On Christmas Eve

  Contributed by Peter Loughman on Dec 24, 2008 (message contributor)

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  Scripture:  None

  Tags:  Christmas Eve

  Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

LIGHTING CANDLES ON CHRISTMAS EVE

Every time on Christmas Eve that I light my candle, I catch myself staring into the flame – I can’t seem to help it. There, I hold one small ordinary candle with a small flickering light. In of itself, my little flame doesn’t cast much light, but I don’t know, somehow I find that flame comforting. The flame, small as it is, casts aside the darkness, with my flame I know that I am no longer alone...I know this flame is not just a flame, it represents the light of our Lord Jesus Christ – He has come to me and given me hope.

I know that in a few short minutes I will have to return to the difficulties of my life, health issues, financial worries, problems I know deep down will not go away on their own. But right now, I as I stare into the flame I realize again that I do not have to bear it all on my own, I as I stare into the flame, I know that Jesus Christ has the ability to see me through. I just need to call on Him.

Then I look up and I see a whole congregation full of light. It is not that each of us are a light, rather, each of us can hold the light of Jesus in our hearts. There is a flame among us, the flame that moves silently among us until there is not a person unaffected by the light – It is then that I finally understand the powerful words of the Apostle John:

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.

John 1:3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

John 1:6 There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9 The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

May the true light, come into your life and fill you with the peace that you have been searching for.