Turning Our Eyes Toward Jesus

John 8:12 – Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me, shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." (NKJV)

My husband and I have been going for Sunday afternoon walks. Recently, as we passed all the houses, I thought about how bare and dark they looked because their Christmas lights weren't turned on yet. A figure of Frosty the Snowman, which would have been internally illuminated at night, looked all alone standing precariously on someone's roof.

"Don't jump, Frosty!" exclaimed my husband. We laughed together. Our lives are very much like Frosty and those lights. We can get so caught up in our daily lives that sometimes we don't think about God or Jesus until we are in a tight spot and really need some help. We are living on the edge, just like Frosty. When we let Jesus take control of our daily lives, and we have a personal relationship with Him, only then will His light shine out from within our very beings. Jesus fills us with His unending love, hope, and peace. That is His light.

When those Christmas lights come on in the dark, it is beautiful. Jesus said that we are to be lights for the world, too. When Frosty is busy shining his glorious light for all to see, he no longer looks "ready to jump". When the light is shining from within him, we no longer see the imperfections or the darkness beneath. When our sins are forgiven, the light of Christ shines from within us. God sees us as pure and clean in Christ; He does not see the imperfections that seem so obvious to us.

But let us dwell on what is surely the most perfect light of all. Let us turn our eyes toward Jesus.

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There's light for a look at the Saviour,
And life more and abundant and free!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.

Prayer: Father God, we really love you. You are a magnificent God. Teach us how to love you more, and fill us with your presence, your Holy Spirit, and your light. Help us to shine our light, so that others will see who you really are. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.