{"id":8496,"date":"2003-12-19T23:22:59","date_gmt":"2003-12-20T04:22:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.covchurch.org\/newswire\/?p=8496"},"modified":"2011-07-06T08:28:23","modified_gmt":"2011-07-06T13:28:23","slug":"3412","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blogs.covchurch.org\/newswire\/2003\/12\/19\/3412\/","title":{"rendered":"Advent Devotion: Christmas the Theme of “Lights”"},"content":{"rendered":"

CHICAGO, IL (December 19, 2003)\u00a0 – Covenant Communications has posted\u00a0 several Advent devotionals from more than 250 monthly church newsletters\u00a0 and emails. This one is from Bill Clark, pastor of Redeemer Covenant\u00a0 Church, Tulsa, Oklahoma.<\/em><\/p>\n

…We are nearing Christmas as Advent begins to fade away. Of course,\u00a0 commercially we have been nearing Christmas since the day after\u00a0 Halloween. There is no point lamenting the premature celebration of\u00a0 Jesus’ birth – that’s a tired song. But we miss something by not\u00a0 lingering in Advent – the season of waiting and anticipation. We need an\u00a0 extended time of examination before we celebrate. I urge all of us to\u00a0 ponder during the days that remain before Christmas the theme of “lights.”<\/p>\n
Not only will we continue to enjoy the literal lights of the season, but\u00a0 we will be made aware of the vast number of lesser lights that cry out\u00a0 for our attention in the next few days. Another trip to the mall,\u00a0 another task to cross off our list, yet another conversation about the\u00a0 holiday schedule – all of these will occupy our minds until the crashing\u00a0 anticlimax of December 26.<\/p>\n
So here’s the question: When will we pay attention to the greater light?\u00a0 When will the light of God’s presence be rediscovered in a season that’s\u00a0 supposed to be holy. I urge us all to stop sometime each day and ponder\u00a0 again the mystery of the promise that Emmanuel has come to ransom the\u00a0 captives. He still seeks the seeker and looks for the lost. He could\u00a0 have stayed in the comfortable confines of heaven. He could have ignored\u00a0 the people’s cry.<\/p>\n
Instead, “God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but\u00a0 that it might be saved through him” (John 3:17). May the bright light of\u00a0 this truth shine supremely until Christmas comes.<\/p>\n
To read devotionals posted earlier, visit the following:<\/p>\n