Did you know that when Christ says “I am the light of the world; whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life” he’s actually talking about today? Yes, it was true 2,000 years ago. Jesus was walking on earth in a human body. But Jesus Christ is just as alive today, friends. We must never forget that! Yes, he died on the cross to forgive us all our sins. But, He rose from the dead. Death couldn’t hold him.

This Christmas, talk about a Christmas of light. Tell your family and friends about Jesus. A Christmas of light is a Christmas lived in the presence of Jesus Christ, who said “I am the light of the world.”

As you go through your holiday routine, tell people about what Jesus has done in your life. When you’re shopping for Christmas presents, let the cashier know that Jesus loves them. When you’re making Christmas dinner, tell your family what Jesus has done in your life.

Read Luke 2 with your children. Teach them the meaning of Christmas. Don’t let this Christmas come and go without focusing on Jesus Christ. During the Christmas season people may be more open to learn about Jesus. Right now is a great opportunity to tell other people what Jesus means to you.

These days, we use the word “hope” all the time. “I hope this year will be better than last year and I hope the market goes up and I hope my stocks do better.” Let’s “hope so.” But, real hope isn’t about hoping things will go better. The hope I’m talking about is reality – a living expectation – squarely based on God’s revealed promises.

When you open your heart to Christ, God actually comes into your life. That’s real! Suddenly, you know God for yourself. And it isn’t a religious thing. It isn’t just doing the proper thing on Sunday or Christmas or Easter. Now it’s a deep, personal relationship with the Living God. You become a child of God. Suddenly you have peace with God. You know you’re loved. You have the Holy Spirit. You’re a new person.

The Bible says, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” And your hope keeps on growing as you get to know God more and more each day.

The miracle of Christmas is hope. Christ came to earth as a baby to bring us this hope. He died and rose again so we might have real hope, not just “hope so.” Who has God placed in your path who needs to hear of this hope? Pray, and ask the Lord for the opportunity to lovingly, respectfully, share His hope with your friends and family.

When I lived in Mexico City, I would chat occasionally with my next-door neighbor. But I didn’t share the Gospel with him. I told myself that I didn’t need to talk to him about Jesus because he seemed happy just as he was. In time, my neighbor changed. The joy left his face. He and his wife started driving separate cars to work. I could tell their marriage was souring. I felt I should talk with him, but I didn’t want to meddle in his life. I went about my business and headed off for an evangelistic crusade in Peru. When I returned home, I learned my neighbor had killed himself. I was heartbroken. I knew I should have gone to him and persuaded him to repent and follow Christ. But, because of silly excuses, I didn’t do it. We must not make excuses for not telling people about Jesus Christ. The Bible says Christians are, “Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.” Friends, let’s be bold in our faith! Don’t do what I did. Don’t walk past an opportunity to tell someone about Jesus. The world is literally dying without Jesus Christ.

I’ve often talked with people who feel dragged down by life’s disappointments. These people seem to have lost the purpose and vision for their lives. Do you feel the same way? When we lose the vision of how God wants to use us, we lose joy. And without joy, we can’t bless others in the Lord. So, how do you recover a joy that’s lost and can’t be found?

Let me tell you about the famous servant of God, George Mueller. Mueller was a pastor and evangelist in England in the 1800s. He and his wife started an orphanage that cared for thousands of homeless boys and girls. Mueller wrote a lot about being happy. Do you know what his secret to happiness was? Time with Jesus!

“My first duty in the morning,” he wrote, “is to be happy in the Lord. If I’m happy in the Lord, I can face anything during the day.” To be happy in the Lord, he spent time each and every morning on his knees reading the Scripture and praying.

Jesus Himself said if we remain in him our “joy will be complete.” The more time we get to know Jesus, the happier we become. And we begin to realize God’s plan and purpose for our lives – which is reaching our world for Jesus Christ!