I’m a Golden Lampstand
Café Menu for Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Today’s Special is: Shining Light in a Dark World
Carefully prepared just for you by your friend, Alyssa Woollard
Main Ingredient:
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:3-5 NIV
Entrée:
The golden lampstand, or Menorah, that stood in the Old Testament temple wasn’t just there to shine light upon the Table of Shewbread. It was symbolic. Made from one solid piece of hammered gold weighing about 75 pounds, it was the only solid gold item in the tabernacle. It was the only source of light, in what would otherwise have been darkness.
The lamp was never to be lit with strange fire, only with coals directly from the altar of sacrifice. The altar was covered in innocent blood. The altar was lit by God Himself with holy fire. The glowing light from the seven oil lamps illuminated the inside of the temple, washing waves of soft light over the Holy Place.
The light served as a reminder to the Israelites that their God was always with them. It reminded them that they were to be the light of the world and its symbolism remains the same for us today. Only now its meaning is multiplied exponentially. Now Christ has come. Now we, as Christ followers, imparted with the gift of the Holy Spirit, have become that light.
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth).
Ephesians 5:8-9 NIV
And just as the fire lighting the lamps had to be holy so we must be holy, unpolluted by the world. We are washed clean by the shedding of Christ’s innocent blood. We become like the wick of the lampstand, fueled by the anointing of the Holy Spirit burning brightly in a dark and dying world.
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
1 John 1:5-7 NIV
As we celebrate the Festival of Lights, may we remember as we light candles each night He who lives inside of us and determine to shine bright.
Take Out:
During this Hanukkah season, set aside a small amount of time each day to meditate on Christ and what He has done for us. Consider lighting a Menorah to remind you of God’s presence always being with you and then be the light today. Let Christ shine through you.
Dessert:
Lord, thank You so much for who you are. Thank You for loving us and giving us Christ to make us holy. It is through His blood alone that we are empowered to be lights in this world. Lord, may You shine through us today. May we always know You are with us. May we walk in Your Light every day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
© 2014 by Alyssa Woollard. All rights reserved.
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Originally published Wednesday, 17 December 2014.
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