Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to observe your righteous ordinances. I am severely afflicted; give me life, O Lord, according to your word. Accept my offerings of praise, O Lord, and teach me your ordinances. I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget your law. The wicked have laid a snare for me, but I do not stray from your precepts. Your decrees are my heritage for ever; they are the joy of my heart. I incline my heart to perform your statutes for ever, to the end.
(Psalm 119:105-112)
After Jesus' birth, the gospel of John speaks of him as the word of God. Here that word is seen as "a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path", so with that in mind, I think of travelling in more rural areas of our nation in which you can see the stars. In those more rural ares, so many stars can be seen on a clear night for there is such darkness! In that setting I most see the relevance of a "lamp" or "light" to see where you are walking. The psalmist sees the word of God as a guidance to every day steps by holding one's life in my own hands (self-responsibility) and not forgetting the law of God.
How much life the psalmist sees in the law of God. It is as if God's law has power in itself (to live in me if only I allow such)! God's gift of the living word in Christmas affirms this power. So my hope is that I will strive more than ever before to live out the word of God that is in short ...
love God, neighbor, enemy, and self.
My prayer in this Christmas season is you will do so as well.
New Year's Eve Service,
6:30 PM
arlingtonum.org
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