PASTOR'S CORNER

One of the most famous Christmas trees in the world is the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in New York City. The tree is anywhere from 69 to 100 feet tall and covered with 50,000 LED lights. These lights are a far cry from the lights that adorned the first Christmas trees in Germany: candles attached to tree limbs with melted wax. When electricity became available in the late nineteenth century, electric lights slowly replaced the candles and small lanterns used for centuries.

Regardless of the kind of lighting, Christmas trees have always displayed lights. Why? Originally lights to illuminate dark houses in the dead of winter were a welcome source of cheer. But fro Christmas, the reason was obvious: to celebrate the birth of Christ who came as the Light of the World (John 1:3-9). As Simon declared when seeing the infant Jesus, "A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel" (Luke 2:32).

Be the light of Christ in your world as you celebrate Christmas this year. His light dispels all darkness wherever it shines forth.