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Pastor Foss' Weekly Devotion
Pastor Foss delivers the sermon, along with music from the Redeemer Choir. 
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December 14, 2007
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness - on them light has shined. Isaiah 9:2
When I was a boy and staying on my grandparents' farm, my brother and I decided that we would sleep outside in the granary one night. We grabbed our pillows, some blankets and, with a spirit of excitement and anticipation, we set up in the granary
Everything was fine until 11 o'clock when the yard light went off. For two city kids, it was a darkness we had never experienced. I don't remember if the stars were out or not. What I remember was how the world changed when the darkness extinguished all visibility. In all fairness, my brother and I had camped out in the back yard at home many times. But we didn't know that the lights of the city created an unnatural "brightness" to the dark. When that yard light went out - the darkness was complete. Our flashlights went on and to say we moved quickly would be an understatemen
The light of Christ comes into the darkness of winter at Christmas time. It's much more than a metaphor. It speaks of the love of God we can know in Jesus while we live in a world where abuse of power is rampant. The light of Christ is the declaration by our God that any distance between God and us is unacceptable from God's standpoint. Christmas is God becoming human so that we can know God.
It was at a 12 Step meeting that this truth became clear to me. One of those in recovery spoke of the complete darkness their addiction and the incredible light of love that he experienced when he heard that Jesus Christ accepted him and loved him.. that God only wanted a good life for him. He had never experienced such grace - and, he said, it saved his life. The darkness in his soul was so great that it was overwhelming and he was planning his suicide. (He gave me permission to share this story but not his name.)
My prayer for each of us is that, when we feel overwhelmed by the darkness, we will remember the promise of God through Isaiah. In Christ the light that cannot be dimmed has come for you and me.
Lord, help me look for your light when the darkness seems so near. Amenen
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