Dutch Sheets - Jesus is the Light of the World (01/17/2026)
On this Christmas Eve Give Him 15, Dutch Sheets celebrates Jesus as the eternal Light of the world who came as a baby in a manger yet brings hope, life, and salvation into every dark place, drawing from key Scriptures like John 1:1-5, John 8:12, Matthew 5:14–16, and others. He connects America’s founding destiny as a «city on a hill» shining God’s light to the nations, affirming that the Lord is declaring a new season where Christ’s light will overpower darkness and usher in a great awakening and harvest of souls. The core encouragement is to worship the Light, pray for the lost, declare exposure of evil, and believe for national revival so America fulfills its covenant role in drawing the world to Jesus.
Welcome and Christmas Greeting
Hello and welcome to Give Him 15. This is Christmas Eve, and I wish you a Merry Christmas, even though it’s a day early. Thank you for joining me. The title of today’s Give Him 15 post is «Jesus, the Light of the World.»
Remembering the Gift in the Manger
On this Christmas Eve, we remember the gift given to us in a manger. Though He was a weak and needy baby, He was also the King of the whole earth—the light and life to all humankind. Today He stands ready to shine the light of God’s love into every dark, death-filled place.
His bright shining gives hope to the hopeless and reveals a faith-filled future to all who bring their darkened hearts to Him. The first thing God gave the world was light. Genesis 1:3 says, «And God said, ‘Let there be light, ’ and there was light.» Jesus was the Creator on that day of creation.
Scripture: John 1:1–5
John 1:1–5 in the Amplified Bible says: «In the beginning before all time was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. He was continually existing in the beginning, co-eternally with God. All things were made and came into existence through Him, and without Him not even one thing was made that has come into being.»
«In Him was life and the power to bestow life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines on in the darkness, and the darkness did not understand it or overpower it or appropriate it or absorb it.»
More Scriptures on the Light
Regarding the condition of the world on the day of His birth, the Word tells us, «The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. They sat in the land of death, and the light broke through upon them» (Matthew 4:16). Jesus said of Himself, «I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness but will have the Light of life» (John 8:12).
To those who don’t yet know Him, He says, «What makes everything clear is light. Therefore it is said, ‘Get up, sleeper, and rise up from the dead, and the Messiah will shine on you’» (Ephesians 5:14). To those of us who have received Him and comprehend His Word, He says, «You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven» (Matthew 5:14–16).
America as a City on a Hill
Of course, this passage has been quoted numerous times regarding America. John Winthrop, a leader of the Puritan Massachusetts Bay Colony, used this verse in his 1630 speech aboard the Arbella to describe what he believed God wanted to build in America—a city set on a hill. Since then, at least fourteen presidents have quoted Matthew 5:14 to describe America, though modern revisionists try to rewrite our history. As John Adams stated, «Facts are stubborn things.» May we become that bright light once again, shining forth His glory to every nation on earth. It is our destiny and our honor.
The Days of Light Are Upon Us
The Lord is saying that the days of light are upon us. This Christmas, let this be the season you choose to walk in the light more purely than ever before. Many will be saved as His light penetrates the darkness. The darkness will not be able to resist it. Those who continue trying to hide their evil deeds will be found out, and we pray it will not be too late for them. For those of us who walk in His saving light, we will extend His light throughout the whole world, and the great awakening will quickly come upon us.
Thoughts for Prayer Today
As you think about prayer today, here are some thoughts: Worship Jesus, for He is the pure Light of God. He is the promise of the Father and the one and only Savior of the world. Pray for those who reject Christ’s saving light because they love the darkness and think they can keep their evil deeds hidden—but all will come to light eventually. Pray for them. Declare that the light of Christ will shine into every dark place and uncover every evil thing in every darkened heart. Declare that the salvation of Christ, through the expansion of His great light, will penetrate the darkest corners of the earth.
Let the great harvest of souls begin. Ask God to fulfill His calling on our nation to be that bright shining light set on a hill, drawing all people from across the earth to Jesus—America’s covenant Founder and our Savior.
A Prayer for Christmas Eve
And here is a prayer we can pray together: Lord, on this Christmas Eve, we worship You—Savior of the whole earth and Light of the world. We extol Your holy name; there is no name more beautiful and no other name by which men may be saved. Father, we are grateful that You sent Your Son to be the light of salvation to our dark world.
We intercede for those who have not yet come to know You. We pray that You would help their blind eyes to see and continue to shine Your bright light into the darkest recesses of their hearts, so they will desire to come to You and find freedom from the darkness that holds their souls in bondage. Lord, the salvation of men’s souls removes much darkness from every area of society. When we give our lives to You, we live differently. We walk as those in the light and avoid dark places. Our nation is in great need of this salvation light.
You are the Light, Lord. Please shine in the darkness and drive it out. Save the souls of men and women, and save our nation. Mindsets change when the light comes—dark and twisted ways of thinking clear and straighten. We can see the path before us and choose to walk in Your ways instead of our own. When the Light comes—come, Light of the World—shine on us, and we shall be saved. Let our nation become that shining light set on a hill, drawing the lost to You. In Jesus’ name, Father, we pray. Amen.
Today’s Decree
And our decree today is: Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon us. Let our nation and the peoples of the nations of the earth be saved. Amen.