The Light of Faithfulness

“All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.” John 1:3-5, 9

Each morning we are awakened to light. Light is life as it causes vegetation to grow, and is integral to the cycle of precipitation. Without light we would live in a barren land. On a psychological level, a lack of light can cause depression and a generally pessimistic outlook. Light is life. Perhaps that is why I am constantly drawn to the imagery of light in the Bible. Light is used for providence, for safety, for purity, and of course for salvation. And as we approach Christmas day, our minds can’t help but be reminded of the dawning of a new day – the breaking in of new life. As the song of Zechariah puts it in Luke 1:78-79:

“By the tender mercy of our God,
the dawn from on high will break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

And yet, as prevalent as I think the imagery of light is in the Bible, few worship songs convey this idea. However, there is one of particular significance. Phos Hilaron is an ancient Christian hymn originally written in Koine Greek. The hymn is known in English as 'Hail Gladdening Light' or 'O Resplendent Light'. It is the earliest known Christian hymn recorded outside of the Bible that is still being used today. It is found in a collection of songs to be sung in the morning, in the evening, before meals, and at candle lighting. The following version (translation) is from the 1979 American Book of Common Prayer:

O gracious Light,
pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven,
O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!
Now as we come to the setting of the sun,
and our eyes behold the vesper light,
we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices,
O Son of God, O Giver of life,
and to be glorified through all the worlds.

May the image of light warm your soul this Christmas season and throughout the year, as we trust in the faithfulness of God just as we trust in the rising of the Sun.

Godly Gift Giving

The season of gift giving and receiving is upon us. Much of the season has been commercialized as we all know and have heard. I will admit that I am a bit of a curmudgeon during this season – a Scrooge if you will. But if I let myself, sometimes I am reminded that the season celebrates something greater than giving and receiving gifts. It celebrates the ultimate gift given – the Christ Child.

It is pretty amazing when you stop and think about it, perhaps anew.
God coming down to earth in the form of a baby.
Living life in this world.
Suffering at our hands.
Dying.
Being raised from the dead.
God has given us the gift of a new life. He has given us the gift of blazing the trail. Of leading the way. Of giving us an example to follow. It is a pretty amazing gift – the gift that keeps on giving.

No doubt we say “Thanks” in various ways. We enjoy the gift. Maybe we use it as God intended. Maybe not. And often we don’t do anything in return. Of course, God didn’t give us this gift so he could get a gift in return, but courtesy dictates that when someone does something special for you, perhaps you can find a way to return the favor.

The Israelites understood this, and in their Law Code made it clear that a response from a grateful people was expected and in fact required:

“Three times a year all your men must appear before the LORD your God at the place he will choose: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Tabernacles. No man should appear before the LORD empty-handed: Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the LORD your God has blessed you.” Deuteronomy 16:16-17

At three major festivals a year the Israelites proportionally returned to God the blessings He had bestowed. In an agrarian society, obviously a bumper crop of grapes meant that God got would receive a cornucopia of clusters. So what do we do? First, think of all the ways God has blessed you. Take your time and really consider all the ways you are blessed especially in ways you don’t think of. Think not just of what you have received but also what you haven’t. Consider all the things from which you have been spared that God didn’t have to. With these things in mind, ask yourself, “What would be a proportionate gift to give back to God?”

Is there anything that would suffice? What if we sold all the monetary blessings and gave the money to God? Would that be enough? What if we wanted to get God a Christmas gift? What do you get God? What do you get for the guy who has everything?
I made up a list of things I have purchased for my earthly father from time to time. Let’s see how that works out for God.

A car wash kit – From the Bible I read God doesn’t drive in a car – he drives in some weird cherubim driven throne (Ezekiel 1).
Cologne – Even God likes to smell nice right? Technically speaking, the knowledge of Christ enacted through us is supposed to be God’s fragrance (2 Corinthians 2:14-16)
A new grill – When God wants to cook his meat he sends fire down from heaven (1 Kings 18:38).
New shirt and tie – I think that God being clothed with splendor and majesty is always going to be better looking than some gaudy outfit (Psalm 104:1).

So we are left with some frustration on what to get the Creator of the universe. Perhaps the best gift we can give to God is to use His gift to us wisely. Not to take for granted the new, full life that we now experience. As Peter puts it, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:10).

The one thing that God doesn’t possess is our choices to love and serve others. He doesn’t control our actions. They are the only things that we have that we can give God. It is also the only thing that he desires. Sure, he appreciates Bible reading, prayer times, church attendance, or tithing. Those are all good things. But what makes his face light up like a child opening that special gift on Christmas morning is seeing us treat one another with grace, dignity, respect – love.

“This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”
2 Corinthians 9:12-15