This month in our family devotions we are using a French Advent calendar that was given to us by a friend. Each day includes a Bible verse as well as a meditation on that verse. Since we are studying French in our home school, it is nice to be able to do "double duty" with our devotions, learning some Bible verses in French as we hear God's word!
Yesterday's verse is of special comfort to those for whom the dark and cold months of winter can be particularly emotionally trying. I bet that even if you don't know French you may be able to figure out the general message:
"La nuit est bientot finie." - (There should be a circumflex over that "o" but I don't know how to make it.) - Romans 13:12a
Although we are just now entering winter and there are many long, cold and dark days yet to come before the promise of springtime relief (especially for those of us in certain parts of the country), we can take comfort in the truth that the light of Christ is eternal! For "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . . In Him was life, and the life was the light of men." That Word came down to earth, "became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory" and we now prepare once again to welcome that glory in the celebration of Nativity of our Lord. Although we surely live in dark and latter days here on earth, we can hold fast to the certainty that there is a "light [that] shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." (Quoted from John 1:1ff)
"La nuit est bientot finie."-- "The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light." - Romans 13:12
3 comments:
But, Cheryl...that's one of those similarities between Christianity and ancient religions that I talked about on my blog the other day. One of those things the ancients corrupted. The days begin to lengthen, ever so slightly, at the winter solstice. That's why they celebrated the solstice, and why the celebration of Christ's birth (which is fairly certain didn't happen in the winter) was placed there by the early Church. The light is come, and the night is over!
Amen. My point exactly.
But even though I know the days are going to start lengthening soon, I'm not sure that I will be able to tell the difference immediately, especially considering how many sunless, cloudy days we are likely to have over the next few months. So I for one will be holding fast to the Light that never flickers nor dies no matter what the season or the hour!
รด Alt+0244 Yes, I've typed a few French papers in my day. :)
Thank you for this tidbit. I really hate the darkness of winter, and this is a good comfort indeed!
Post a Comment