"This is the time to experience My light, and to re-dedicate yourselves to Me! Turn to My light and return to My light, for I am enlightening the spiritual eyes of many in this time and season!"
Indeed, this is the time to experience the Light, the true Light - Jesus! Let this Light so shine into every area of your life, because when this Light comes, every darkness has to flee! Yes, even whatever darkness sent by the enemy against you!
John 1:6-13 (NLT) says, 'The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the Light so that everyone might believe (in Christ, the Light)... John himself was not the Light; he was simply a witness to tell about the Light. The One who is the true Light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He came into the very world He created, but the world didn’t recognize Him. He came to His own people, and even they rejected Him. But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn - not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God'.
John 8:12 (NLT) says, 'Jesus spoke to the people, "I am the Light of the world. If you follow Me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the Light that leads to life."
You see, this Light leads to life! In a time of reflection and thanksgiving, let us all turn to the Light and return to the Light. And as you celebrate the Light, let Him show you His way and enlighten your spiritual eyes - to see what He sees and how He sees - His plans, purposes, and destiny for your life, moving forward!
*By the way, 'to enlighten' is 'to give someone greater knowledge and understanding about something, to shed light on'.
You see, this Light leads to life! In a time of reflection and thanksgiving, let us all turn to the Light and return to the Light. And as you celebrate the Light, let Him show you His way and enlighten your spiritual eyes - to see what He sees and how He sees - His plans, purposes, and destiny for your life, moving forward!
*By the way, 'to enlighten' is 'to give someone greater knowledge and understanding about something, to shed light on'.
Let us not be like the people those days, such that when the Light came, they couldn't recognize Him, and even rejected Him!
John 10:22-33 (NLT) says, 'It was now winter, and Jesus was in Jerusalem at the time of Hanukkah, the Festival of Dedication. He was in the Temple, walking through the section known as Solomon's Colonnade. The people surrounded Him and asked, "How long are You going to keep us in suspense? If You are the Messiah, tell us plainly." Jesus replied, "I have already told you, and you don’t believe Me. The proof is the work I do in My Father’s name. But you don’t believe Me because you are not My sheep. My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from Me, for My Father has given them to Me, and He is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one." Once again the people picked up stones to kill Him. Jesus said, "At my Father’s direction I have done many good works. For which one are you going to stone Me?" They replied, "We’re stoning You not for any good work, but for blasphemy! You, a mere man, claim to be God."
You see the irony here? During the Festival to celebrate Lights, the people those days couldn't recognize the True Light when He passed by! Not only that, they even sought to kill Him and destroy Him, because their spiritual eyes were blinded!
*What is the Festival of Hanukkah?
- Also known as Jewish Festival of Lights.
- To commemorate the re-dedication of the 2nd Jewish temple in Jerusalem.
In Hebrew, the word 'Hanukkah' simply means 'dedication'.
There is no accident in how the Scripture verses have been arranged, because the Holy Spirit is the true author of the Scripture! (2 Peter 1:20-21) Notice just before the above verses in John 10, Jesus spoke about spiritual blindness in John 9, and showed how He healed a man born blind (who was now able to see)!
John 9:1-6 (NLT) says, 'As Jesus was walking along, He saw a man who had been blind from birth. "Rabbi," His disciples asked Him, "Why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents' sins?" "It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins," Jesus answered. "This happened so the power of God could be seen in him. We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the One who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. But while I am here in the world, I am the Light of the world." Then He spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes. He told him, "Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam" (Siloam means "sent"). So the man went and washed and came back seeing!'
Yes, like that man, we may be 'blind' in the past, but now we can 'see'! Hallelujah!
People of God, as you celebrate the Light this week, may you experience Him so real! And because you are now the 'temple' where the Holy Spirit dwells (1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 6:19), just as at the time of Hanukkah, the Festival of Dedication, let this also be a time you'll re-dedicate yourself to Him - because He's going to do greater works through you in the year ahead. In Jesus' name. Amen!
