Where to start? Probably best to start at the beginning…
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:1-5, NIV
He came with purpose—for a purpose. To save us. To redeem us. To become for us the Redeeming Light. So how can we, in this precious Advent season, remember, rejoice in, and share all that He has done for us? Perhaps by reflecting on where we, each one, individually began:
“Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.” Psalm 51:5, CSB
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23, CSB
How do those scriptures hit your heart? Are you inclined, as am I, to affirm the following in light of them?
“For it was you who created my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made. Your works are wondrous, and I know this very well.” Psalm 139:13-14, CSB
God knew His redemptive purposes, for your life and mine, from the very beginning! And He both had and has a plan!
“But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8, CSB
Hey, wait a minute, aren’t we talking about Jesus’ birth? The nativity? What’s this about His death? He came with purpose—for a purpose.
“He says, ‘It is not enough for you to be my servant, raising up the tribes of Jacob and restoring the protected ones of Israel. I will also make you a light for the nations, to be my salvation to the ends of the earth.’” Isaiah 49:6, CSB
“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’” John 1:29, NIV
“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’.” John 14:6, NIV
“He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:10-12, NIV
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” 1 John 3:1a, NIV
The Redeeming Light shines upon us! How then shall we live? As beloved children of our Heavenly Father, co-heirs with Jesus, who laid down His life for us, that we might live in, and share, His Redeeming Light!
Perhaps you’d like to pray along with me, using His Word, His living and redemptive Word, as a guide:
Oh Lord, our gracious and compassionate Lord, You spoke through Your beloved disciple, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). You were with God in the beginning. And in Your compassion, and by Your grace, You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well (Psalm 139:13-14). You sought me when I was a sinner, and You revealed to me that You laid down Your life for me. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends (John 15:13). And that is what You call me—Friend. When I received You as my Savior by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:9), I realized that You are Who You say You are and that You will do what You say You will do (John 14:20). I became a child of Yours (John 1:12, 1 John 3:1a), born with purpose for a purpose, to live out the redemption story You have for my life! Thank You for Your indwelling Holy Spirit (John 14:16-17). Help me walk by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16), as His fruit flourishes in and through my life (Galatians 5:22-23). I know that Your Holy Spirit will guide me into all truth, help me to obey You, and empower me to do Your work (John 16:7, 13; Acts 1:8; Galatians 5:16). Whatever I do, whether in word or deed, help me do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to and praise to You (Colossians 3:17). In Jesus Name, Amen.
How grateful I am that Jesus is the Redeeming Light in my life, and in the lives of all who call Him Savior and Lord. His was not an easy life—born amidst controversy and chaos, but He lived and died surrendered to His Father’s will and is now interceding for us at His Father’s right hand.
I’ve been in counseling for the past three months. At the beginning of 2024, the Lord prompted me to take that step. I went to one session, was fully open and honest with my counselor, but then I got scared and didn’t return. I’ve had deep-rooted patterns in my life that I’ve tried—and failed—to break for years. So, I decided to give counseling another shot.
Through our sessions, I began to uncover something about myself: I really struggle with expectations. When I feel like I’ve let someone down or failed to meet their expectations, I shut down. I tend to get caught up in my head, and I choose to listen to the voices telling me lies, because “it is the truth” and I am being “honest with myself.” This pattern has been with me for years, and I’ve been trying to break it, but I find myself stuck.
One session, my counselor said something that stopped me in my tracks: “Rachel, you still believe the law applies to your life.” She asked me to think about areas in my life where I felt the most pressure to meet expectations. I listed my career, relationships, and my spiritual life. She wrote these down and asked me to rate how well I thought I was doing in each area on a scale of 1 to 10. To be honest, my ratings were embarrassingly low.
She then drew a bar chart to visualize my answers. The height of each bar represented how accepted I felt, and the empty space above each bar showed how unaccepted, insecure, and unworthy I felt. She said, “You don’t feel secure in these areas because you’re living according to a list of expectations. You’ve been holding yourself to these standards, thinking that meeting them will earn you approval from others—and even from God.”
In that moment, I realized something powerful: I was living under a law of my own making. I had imposed a set of rules on myself, thinking that if I met those expectations, I’d find approval and acceptance. Just like the Israelites in the Old Testament, I was living under a system that wasn’t meant to bring freedom but set me up for failure.
The Old Testament law was essentially a list of demanding rules that no one could fully follow. It wasn’t designed to give life but to point out humanity’s need for a savior. The law highlighted our imperfections and need for grace.
And then, Jesus enters the picture.
He doesn’t come to add more rules to follow. Instead, He offers something revolutionary: healing for the sick, freedom for the oppressed, comfort for the brokenhearted. He offers grace, acceptance, and forgiveness. In Luke 4:18-19 (NLT), we see why Jesus came:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.”
Jesus’ message is not about meeting more expectations; it’s about freedom. Freedom from the weight of the law and the pressure to perform. It’s about knowing that acceptance, security, and love aren’t earned by our actions but are freely given by grace. Jesus came to set us free from the endless loop of striving and falling short. We are accepted, not because of what we do, but because of who He is and what He has already done for us.
As I reflected more, I realized I had misconceptions about God. I easily believed Jesus accepted me, but I struggled to believe God did too. It felt easier to relate to Jesus’ kindness than to imagine the Father’s unconditional love. My counselor pointed me to John 6:38 (CSB), where Jesus says, “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me.” If Jesus is following God’s will, then what is God’s will? It’s to bring good news, proclaim freedom, heal the brokenhearted, and set the oppressed free. God’s heart has always been to heal, restore, and offer hope. The entire story of the Bible is about God’s work in healing and restoring humanity. His will is to bring peace, love, and freedom.
So, what does this mean for expectations, The Law, and me?
It means I must let go of the self-imposed expectations that lead to shame, condemnation, and fear. Instead, I need to embrace God’s way of living—one that brings healing, restoration, and freedom. Self-imposed expectations, in my experience, only breed anxiety and shame. But God’s way brings peace and security. His heart for His children is to be fully known and fully loved, and this is the foundation of His kingdom. When we submit to His way of living, we are promised abundant life.
God’s kingdom isn’t about striving to meet a list of impossible standards. It’s about living in the freedom and grace He offers. His heart is not to burden us with endless rules but to bring us into a relationship where we are accepted and loved for who we are, not because of what we do. Moving away from self-imposed expectations and embracing God’s way of living is where true freedom lies. God’s heart for us is to be free from the weight of expectation and to live fully in His love, trusting that His grace is enough. This truth, once fully embraced, sets us free.
As you celebrate this Christmas season, reflect on the idea that your Father is waiting to exchange your list of expectations with His way—one that brings love, peace, and joy. Take a moment to write down your own list of expectations. Ask yourself, “Are these burdens I’ve placed on myself, or are they aligned with God’s grace?” Pray for the courage to release them into His hands and walk in His freedom.
Famines, earthquakes, wars, and rumors of war—how could God allow such things?
“My brother, a totally innocent man, was brutally murdered at the age of twenty. I could never worship a god who would allow that to happen, if that god exists at all. You say your god is a loving god. Look around. I see the total opposite. I will not worship any god like that.”
These words were fired at a pastor friend of ours who was trying to lead a young man into a relationship with Jesus. His response, full of compassion and bold truth, was both brilliant and inspired.
“I don’t blame you for feeling like you do. What happened to your brother is horrible and tragic. But let me ask you this: You know what would be even worse? Your brother is in heaven and can’t wait for the day you and he are reunited. But you won’t be there because you’re mad at a god you have misjudged.”
How can we know what God is really like? Jesus said, “The one who has seen Me has seen the Father. I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me.”John 14:9, CSB
A study of the character of Jesus could fill more pages than there are books on earth. We know Him to be kind, merciful, loving, patient, forgiving, sacrificial, compassionate, humble, truthful, and peaceful. Not to mention all-knowing and all-powerful. He even has a sense of humor! Best of all, He calls us to be His friend.
So, what is Jesus like? Let’s examine just one instance for some insight.
In Matthew chapter 8, Jesus has spent a long day ministering to the people. He gets in a boat despite the severe weather coming. He calms the storm (!) and crosses the sea to a Gentile region, where He casts a legion of demons out of a desperate, dangerous man. We have read this passage many times. Ho-hum.
But notice: Jesus poured Himself out. When we hear of the sacrifice of Christ, we think immediately about His torturous death. But He sacrificed Himself daily for us. Did He demand veneration or even reciprocity? No.
Did the demonic man ask to be delivered? Not that we know of. Jesus took the initiative, making an arduous journey to save someone considered an outsider—the most despicable man in the region. And when He is asked to leave, He complies.
Remember, Jesus said, “The Son can do nothing by Himself; He can do only what He sees the Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.”John 5:19, CSB
So, in this passage alone, we learn the Father loves us when we are unlovable. He seeks us out and ministers to our needs. And He does so in miraculous ways. He doesn’t force Himself on us but respects our wishes.
There are two ways of looking at the world:
We can (mis)judge God by what we see and evaluate Him based on our interpretation of earthly events. Sadly, this is what most of us do.
Or we can interpret worldly events knowing that God is sovereign and that He works all things for my good and the good of those who love Him. We can have faith in the God who has revealed Himself to us through Jesus and trust Him in all things at all times.
This season, take some time to get to know God better. Pause. Open His Word. Soak, linger, meditate in a single passage. Ask Him to show you what He longs for you to know about Him. He is waiting for you and yearns for time with you more than you yearn for time with Him.
The eternity He promises us is far beyond our grasp, but we know it will be glorious! The main reason we can celebrate our salvation is because we will get to be with Him. Forever.
The alternative is unthinkable. Think about it. Is there someone you will see this Christmas that needs to know God for who He really is, and not the vindictive, judgmental, arbitrary god they hear about? Wouldn’t it be tragic if someone you love won’t be in heaven because they are mad? Or simply ill-informed? Another perspective, a paradigm shift lovingly presented—could be the greatest gift of all.
This Christmas, as we celebrate the Great Light, consider offering the greatest gift to someone else: the truth about the Father who loves them deeply—introduce them to Jesus.
Well, it’s that time of year once again! The beauty of the Christmas holiday, where parents and children hustle to and froe, setting up decorations while purchasing presents for parties and gift exchanges. Gorgeous light displays characterize and colorize the festive atmosphere. Yet, despite all the LIGHTS, LIGHTS EVERYWHERE, something deeper is missing. These decorative lights may stimulate our senses, but they fail to enlighten our hearts and souls. There is, however, a true Light, eternal in nature, which brings eternal life, hope, deliverance, and ultimate fulfillment. That true Light is Jesus the Messiah, our Lord and King!
Jesus made many eternal and rock-solid claims concerning His identity and purpose. Two out of the numerous audaciously righteous claims are found in Matthew 5:17 and John 8:12. In the former text in Matthew’s gospel, the Lord declares, “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to FULFILL” Matthew 5:17 (CSB). This statement is pivotal because it shows that Jesus is the culmination of God’s promises, not the rejection of them. The latter text shows Jesus declaring Himself as the Light of the world, causing all who follow Him to not live in darkness. This is a bold claim, one that demands our attention—Jesus is not just a part of our story; He is the Light that leads us out of darkness.
If we further investigate, we will find these realities highlighted in key Messianic prophecies found in the Old Testament. One of these texts is Isaiah 9:1-2 (CSB):
‘But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish; in earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He shall make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, The Light will shine on them.’
Interestingly enough, this same prophetic text is quoted in Matthew 4:14-16. In fact, everywhere throughout the gospels, whenever Old Testament Scriptures are cited, the writers show how Jesus fulfilled that specific prophecy.
One may ask, “What does all this mean and what relevance does it have for me?” It’s very simple. It means everything: EVERYTHING Jesus claimed concerning Himself is true. HE IS THE LIGHT BRINGING ETERNAL LIFE TO OUR SOULS, and He is the fulfillment of EVERY promise meticulously laid out in all Scripture! PRAISE GOD AND BLESSED BE THE NAME OF JESUS! We can surrender our lives and beings to Him and His Lordship. We can totally trust in His faithfulness and devotion to us as His beloved people, the children of the Living God.
As we enter the Christmas season, may the LORD remind us that He was zealously faithful to His first advent, paying the ultimate price for our sins. He is equally zealous for His second advent, fully establishing our redemption and His kingdom. Grow closer in your union and devotion to Jesus in your everyday life. This will cause you to be a radiant light for Christ in a dark world desperately searching for life and meaning. The world needs to see the real Jesus, the One who passionately loves them and VIOLENTLY keeps His covenant promises to His people.
So, this Advent, let’s reflect on the true Light that has come. Take a moment to pause, breathe, and let the Light of Christ illuminate your heart anew. Happy Advent and welcome, Lord Jesus! AMEN!
The story of Jesus isn’t a surprising twist in history—it’s the story of history. From the very beginning, God’s plan was always Jesus. Far from being an afterthought or a sequel to the Old Testament, Jesus is the fulfillment of it. Everything in Scripture, from the Law to the Prophets, pointed forward to the coming of the Messiah (Anointed One), the Great Light who would rescue us from darkness.
“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness” (Isaiah 9:2, CSB).
When Jesus declared, “Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.” (Matthew 5:17, CSB), He wasn’t claiming to replace God’s promises—He was completing them. The law revealed humanity’s need for salvation; the sacrifices foreshadowed a perfect, once-and-for-all offering; and the prophets proclaimed the hope of a Savior. Every detail points to Christ as the central character of the story.
The entire narrative of history pivots on the Great Light of Jesus. If you’ve ever felt like parts of your life are overshadowed by darkness—whether it’s fear, doubt, sin, or even purposelessness—it’s time to reorient your story around His.
If all of history is written to reflect the glory of Christ, then our lives should reflect Him too. We were created to live in His light, yet so often we cling to darkness. Sometimes we treat Jesus like an add-on to our lives instead of the center. But the truth is, if Jesus fulfills the story of history, then He’s also the One who can bring completion and light to your story.
During this time of Advent, as we prepare to celebrate Christmas, consider where your life might still be missing the light of Christ. What areas are overshadowed by brokenness, fear, or sin? Jesus invites us to let His story become ours—to let Him write His light into every chapter of our lives.
Here’s how to start:
Surrender the pen. Stop trying to write your story alone. Trust that Jesus knows how to complete it better than you ever could.
Step into the light. Don’t hide the dark corners of your life. Bring them to Jesus and let His truth and love shine in those places.
Reflect the Light. If history is all about Jesus, then our lives should make Him known. Live in a way that reflects His goodness, grace, and truth to others.
The story of Jesus is the story of hope, redemption, and the promise that darkness doesn’t win. Let’s make His story ours, because when we live in His light, we become part of His fulfillment—part of His eternal story.
Action Step: Take time this week to read Isaiah 9:1-7 and Matthew 5:14-16. Ask God to show you areas of your life that need His light. Then pray for the courage to surrender those areas to Him.
