Through a simple exercise of eating and drinking together, Jesus gave us a means of remembering His sacrifice each week. My belief is that He provided this “supper” knowing we would need to be reminded often of this life-changing legacy of love.

As things that are truly good have great value, reminders of such things will also be valuable. That’s one of the reasons I like to see homes and businesses decorated with lights this time of year. We call them “Christmas” lights of course, and it just takes a little mental energy to go from admiring the lights themselves to thinking of the True Light who enlightens every man, as John the apostle put it in John 1:9.

Jesus really does function as light for us so that we can see truth. Without His guidance, we would be floundering in the darkness trying to know how to live and behave and get the most out of life.

Think about it. Without Jesus, where is the guarantee that characteristics such as generosity, compassion, kindness and mercy will have a payoff? How do I know that the time, effort, money and such that I “spend” on loving my neighbor as myself are not wasted?

We can know that these and many more such things are true because Jesus has brought them “to light” for us. They “shine” brightly in the lives of those who enjoy the peace that passes understanding. Indeed, Jesus has taught us that we ourselves are the light of the world as we live out our lives in faithful Godliness (see both Matthew 5:14-16 & Philippians 2:14-16.

It is of some interest to me that the little bulbs that we buy and put on our houses have no

real beauty in and of themselves. I can’t imagine anyone looking at them in the store and

being impressed with the shape of the glass, the disposition of the filament or the quality of the inclined plane (remember, that’s what a screw is) at their base that fits into the socket. Nope. There’s very little to admire about them until they are “lit up”. Then we see their glory.

Same with us. Without Jesus’ influence in our lives, there is little to admire. But when it is there, regardless of what you and I may look like, there is a glorious light that carries the influence of Jesus into every corner of the world in which we go.

Think of that, the next time you see some house all lit up for the season. That’s you, as you truly bring the God of all grace, and the reason for this season, into focus.