Living by Reflection

This Christmas season we pause and reflect on the birth of Jesus, the Savior of the world, born a baby, yet a King. He came from humble means, born on a silent night in the city of Bethlehem, traveling with His mother and father on a donkey to a cold, dark cave of sorts, wrapped in simple swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

This was designed to be a holy night, sacred, like none other before it. The baby Jesus was a lowly infant that would grow to teach the teachers, heal the lame and the oppressed, die an unimaginable death, and rise with the same power from the same God that birthed Him. He was sinless, perfect, and set apart for this very moment. He was born a Redeemer to save the world.

O Holy Night, a favorite Christmas hymn of many, describes the setting of this divine event.

                                                            O Holy Night

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining

It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth

Long lay the world in sin and error pining

‘Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth

A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn

Fall on your knees

O hear the angel voices

O night divine

O night when Christ was born

O night, divine

O night, O night divine

This powerful anthem also describes the condition of hearts then and even today, over two thousand years later. Pining in error and sin, weary and hopeless. Then, as it eloquently describes, a new dawn breaks. A thrill of hope, rejoicing, a new glorious morning. It commands attention to the suggestion for us to fall on our knees, the most powerful moment of the song. A holy song telling of the holy night when a holy child was born to bring us everlasting love.

How often do we reflect on this tender story? Unsurprisingly, we tend to reflect when the lights twinkle, when the music plays, when the candles slowly flicker, and when children’s eyes sparkle at the wonder of the Christmas story.

When we walk by a window or mirror, our eyes catch our reflection. In that moment we’re concerned how we look to others. And when we stand beside a lake, we see our own reflection in the water. How do you see yourself? Do you see yourself chosen? Loved?

As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart. ~ Proverbs 27:19

In the hymn, it reads, He appeared and the soul felt its worth. How often have we been complacent and our soul loses the reflection of its worth? I know many of us struggle with our own reflection, including our self-worth. But our soul finds the most comfort in knowing our worth simply appears with the birth of a holy child. Perhaps our thoughts have been indulged on ourselves and not enough on the holiness of the One worthy of our worship and reflection.

God sees us as worthy to be used in a broken world. He calls us to be His light in the darkness, and how can a broken world find worth in itself without His appearing? We need to remember that He didn’t just come for one night, but in every moment we seek Him. Only then can we be a reflection of the One who gives us our worth.

The love of Christ can shine through us to a hopeless wreck of a world and allow us to take each one by the hand and lead them also to the divine and holy One that loves us all without measure. How privileged we are to behold such a beautiful sight when we discover His reflection shining through us.

Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky,

and those who lead many to righteousness will shine

like the stars forever. ~ Daniel 12:3 (NLT)

-Sherri Cullison