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“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” --Matthew 5:14-16 Jesus clearly states in the Scripture that believers in Him “are the light of the world.” So my question for you on this Christmas Day is this: Are you letting the light of Jesus shine through you? Far too often, followers of Christ forget that they influence other people. Whether it’s for good or for bad, we do influence others! And as believers in Jesus Christ, we are called to shine the light of Jesus Christ in any circumstance in which we find ourselves. You and I are called to influence others for Him! It might seem overwhelming at first to shine the light of Christ into such a dark world, but you have nothing to fear! You don’t have to be afraid of the dark anymore because Jesus Christ has already overcome it. He will make a path for you and light the way. You just need to trust and follow Him. As you gather with friends and family today, it’s my prayer that you would take the light of Jesus Christ to those who don’t know Him. Be responsible with the light God has given you… and help others live in the light like you do!   AS BELIEVERS IN JESUS CHRIST, WE ARE CALLED TO SHINE THE LIGHT OF JESUS CHRIST IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCE IN WHICH WE FIND OURSELVES. Tuesday, December 25, 2018 Room for Jesus by Dr. Paul Chappell And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:6–7 One of the most poignant moments of the Christmas story is the arrival of Joseph and Mary in Bethlehem to find that there was no place for them. Even Mary's advanced pregnancy was not enough to convince anyone to open their doors to the desperate couple. Yet that was only the beginning of a pattern that would follow Jesus in His ministry. Again and again he was asked to leave or threatened with death if He stayed. Harry Ironside said, “I suppose hundreds of people were crowding into Bethlehem. The wealthy would make reservations ahead and preempt the good places to stay. You can imagine there would not be much attention paid to this poor carpenter. One cannot but wonder, however, whether the innkeeper himself ever realized what a wondrous Guest he had failed to find room for. Surely he must regret now that he did not make it possible to entertain them, no matter how crowded the inn might have been.” Before we critique the people of Bethlehem for not making room for Jesus, we must look at our own lives. Do we have room for Him in our time, our finances, our conduct and our worship? Or do we try to squeeze Him in whenever other priorities lessen and we have spare time? “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment” (Matthew 22:37-38). Christmas is a special day to remember Christ’s willingness to come for us. As we thank Him today for His sacrifice, may we renew our commitment to make Him the center of our lives all year long. Today’s Growth Principle:  Make sure that Christ is the center of your life and there is room for Him, not just on Christmas but every day.