Bright Children
Soon after the day when Mary laid her Baby in a manger, she and Joseph began to fulfill the requirements God had told new parents to do in the Law of Moses. After waiting the prescribed number of days for purification, Mary and Joseph carried Jesus to Jerusalem to offer a sacrifice at the temple.
While they were there, the righteous and devout Simeon took Jesus into His arms and praised God. Simeon called Jesus “a light of revelation to the Gentiles.”
Jesus was God in the flesh who came to earth to be the light of the world. In completing His work on earth, Jesus accomplished what we needed most of all — our salvation. He was truly what Simeon said He was — “a light of revelation to the Gentiles.”
And there is salvation in no one else;
for there is no other name under heaven
that has been given among men
by which we must be saved.
Acts 4:12
Jesus calls us to be light, too:
You are the light of the world . . . .
Let your light shine before men in such a way
that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:14. 16
In 1 Peter 2:21, we are called to follow in Jesus’ steps. As Christian parents, we follow in His steps ourselves and we train our children to follow in His steps, too. Part of that following is our, too, being “light of revelation.”
We describe children many ways. “He is adorable.” “She is brilliant.” “What a cutey pie!”
We also have many goals for our children, but we need to make sure we don’t set those goals too low. All our goals need to support one ultimate goal for our children — that they, too, be a “light of revelation” to the world.
“Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace,
According to Your word;
For my eyes have seen Your salvation,
Which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
A Light of revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.”
Luke 2:29-32