Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,

"Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."

And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him.

Luke 2:25-33

An artist was painting a winter scene. Snow blanketed the ground and the pine trees. Night was falling, and the landscape was enveloped in semi-darkness. A log cabin was barely visible in the shadows. The whole scene was one of gloom. Then the artist used some yellow tints to put the cheerful glow of a lamp in one of the cabin windows. That lone light, its golden rays reflecting on the snow, completely transformed the impression given by the painting. In contrast to the cold darkness of the surrounding forest, that light in the window created a warm feeling of love and security. What happened on that canvas is a striking portrayal of one of the most dramatic events in history. When Jesus was born in Bethlehem’s stable, a light was placed in this sin-darkened world. During this week, as we commemorate the birth of the Lord Jesus, be mindful of how much brighter this world is because He came into it. He is the light of the world. How has Jesus brightened your life?

Without the light of Jesus, we would be in the dark about God.

Our Daily Bread – December 24, 2003