Let It Shine!

Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

[Hanukkah, (Hebrew: “Dedication”) also spelled Ḥanukka, Chanukah, or Chanukkah, also called Feast of Dedication, Festival of Lights, or Feast of the Maccabees, Jewish festival that begins on Kislev 25 (in December, according to the Gregorian calendar) and is celebrated for eight days. (From Britannica.com)] This year, the Festival of Lights begins on December 22.

Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” John 8:12

But… but… but… this is Christmas!

As I’m wearing myself out preparing Christmas (which to be truthful has very little to do with celebrating Jesus), the Holy Spirit decided I should first LIGHT MY LAMP!

Oh dear… I have less than a little knowledge of Hanukkah!

But, not to fear… He (the Holy Spirit) had no problem providing the holy oil to miraculously light the temple menorah, for not 1… not 2…not 3… but for the necessary 8 days the Maccabees needed for the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem. I am absolutely/positively sure He can and will provide for the lighting of MY LAMP for the continual rededication of MY LIFE for His home in MY HEART.

Neither, the birth of Jesus nor Hanukkah, is mandated in Scripture as an annual required celebration. However, as I was told today by the Holy Spirit, ”It helps your heart” – My home – to Observe & Remember all that God has done/is doing/will be doing, and to understand that He expects you to represent Him as a member of His family!

WHOA!!

Hanukkah is a matter of a historical event. In a three year struggle against the those who would defeat and destroy the Jews and all that is and was Jewish, in 165 BCE, the enemy was defeated and the desecrated temple was restored. Hanukkah is about the cleansing and rededication, a feast that could not have been accomplished without the miraculous intervention of God.

Christmas is about the virgin birth of our Savior. More than any other victory in all of the Scripture, this is the GREATEST beginning of the GREATEST event planned and accomplished by our GREATEST God! There are disagreements in the “real time” birth of Christ (highly likely, it would not be in the winter with all the pretty snow and treacherous travel!), however, does it really matter IF we are celebrating God, as we Observe and Remember WHAT HE HAS DONE in order for each of us to represent Him?!!?

And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “ Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”  Luke 2:13-14

Are we singing in the chorus? Let It Shine!

Hanukkah is 8 days of lighting (with the servant candle) the menorah of our hearts. Yes, it is in memory of the miracle of having enough oil (the RiGHTeous OIL) when all they had at the time was less than enough fulfill the necessary days of rededication.

Is it any less miraculous that 1. We ARE the temple…

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?  1 Corinthians 6:19 

Is it any less miraculous that 2. We HAVE the lamp…

Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.  Psalm 119:105 

Is is any less miraculous that 3. With the enemy we have, our earthly temple remains cleansed. If rededication needs to take place it is strictly on our part, not on God’s…

“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.“ John 14:1-3

Both Hanukkah and Christmas are equally a wondrous opportunity for each of us to Observe & Remember what God has/is/will always do for us, His children, so that we may Let our light shine before men in such a way that they may see our good works, and glorify our Father who is in heaven.

Whether we celebrate the one or the other… or both… let us sing with the multitude of the heavenly host…

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16

Let It Shine, people!

**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.