Each Sunday in December, including Christmas Eve, candles are lit in celebration of Advent. This past Sunday was the first day when only one candle was lit.
This year, our children are involved and perform speaking parts, sing songs and play instruments. After the children involved sat down, one little girl in the audience got out of her seat and went to the front of the church and just stood, admiring the lit candle.
As I watched this unfold, I realized that there was a message in this. Jesus Christ came to Earth more than 2,000 years ago as a light to the world. Speaking of Jesus, John 1:9 states, “The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.” Light penetrates darkness and draws attention to itself. Those who saw Jesus were attracted to him, his teaching and what he had to offer.
 Not only is Jesus described as being light, but also Jesus himself said that we, his followers, were to be lights. Matthew 5:14 says, “You are the light of the world,” and in verse 16 we are instructed, “Let your light shine before men.” In other words, people ought to be attracted to following Jesus by the life we live.
So the big questions are, “Are others seeing Jesus in you, and are they coming to him because of the light that is shining through you?”