Is He in You?

He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. —1 John 4:4

I think that Gatorade had this slogan years ago. "Is it in you?" They showed images of fluorescent colors filling athletes before they would do incredible things. Now, at this time of the year, we need to all ask ourselves: "Is He in you?" His greatness and power are 100x the strength of Gatorade, and it's helpful on such a greater level. God's power isn't doesn't just give us strength to climb that rock wall but to climb the metophorical "mountain" of papers to write or taxes to pay or gifts to buy. What we need to ask this holiday season is: "Is He in you?" If not, fill up... and you'll overflow with love... overcoming the "mountains" of this world.

5This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7But 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.
8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. -1 John 1:5-10

A further reason we need God in our lives... there is NO darkness in him. Artists recognize the importance of light and darkness in the shading involved in their work. In fact, you're hard pressed to find a place where there is absolutely no "darkness." Of course here we're not talking about physical darkness or lightness, but we're considering the light- guidance, perfection, safety, warmth, love, clarity that God provides as opposed to the dark- fear, danger, ruin, lack, old, cold, unuseful.

I think it's always important to remember the context. At that time, streets weren't filled with street lights, and there wasn't electricity to flip a switch, create an artificial daytime and pull an all-nighter. Darkness meant unproductivity, staying at home, inability to do pretty much anything. On an emotional level, they say that people in Alaska have more trouble adjusting to darkness than to the cold. Darkness is often link to fear, sadness, many negative emotions. No wonder it's so hard to get out of bed in the wintertime! And that's why people began the tradition of the Christmas lights... to fill the winter darkness with the light of Christ that came into a dark world. This season let's fill our hearts with His light... invite His light into your heart and your home this holiday season, as we reflect on the beauty of Christmas.