The Grinch and the Dark House on the Block

We took advantage of the mild weather over the past few days to pull out our outside Christmas lights to hang on the tree in front of our house and string the porch railings with garlands

Actually, we were shamed into it.   Since Thanksgiving weekend, we have become the dark house on the block.  All up and down our street are displays of lights carefully strung on bushes and branches, strings of white lights and twinkling icicles outlining some houses, and candles in the windows.  In some yards, large inflatable characters call for attention at night, including one yard marked by lights for Santa's runway.  My favorite is one fifty-foot evergreen midway down our  block glowing with multicolored lights and a star on top that can be seen for a quarter of a mile.

This is Christmas, and it ought to be celebrated big time.  Who has become the Grinch but us?  Our homes should be the best-lit on the block.  We rejoice because CHRIST HAS COME!  It is not a Festival of Lights, but a Celebration of Light  ("I am the Light of the world," Jesus said). And it is our response to bear witness to that light that all might believe through Him. (John 1.7)

And while you won't find an inflatable Grinch in our front yard, nor Santa's runway, may our lives reflect the light of Christmas --the love of Our Savior -- in season and beyond, radiating from within and evident in who we are and all we do.  May our homes be so distinguished by His love that they glow.

The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.

                        John 1.5

In this the love of God
   was made manifest among us,
that God sent His only Son into the world,
so that we might live through Him.

                    1 John 4.9