Thursday, December 21, 2017

December 21

Zechariah 1:1-21; Revelation 12:1-13:1a; Psalm 140:1-13; Proverbs 30:17

Colored lights twinkle around the roofline of our house, Mary and Joseph are on the front porch with Baby Jesus, and the Christmas tree brightens our living room.  Gifts are under the tree and the smell of cookies is in the air. We are ready for Christmas.

But are we ready for Christmas? Are our hearts ready? Our reading today reminds us of what our God wants from us at Christmas and what He gave us at Christmas.

What does He want to receive from us? If we are far from him, he wants us to return to him. “‘Return to me,’ declares the LORD Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the LORD Almighty” (Zech. 1:3b). What words of hope at Christmastime as I wait for my sons to return to the Lord. My sons are welcome! All who return to Him are longed for and welcomed at His Christmas tree. No one who returns to Him is ever shunned. No, there is a joyful welcome prepared for each one!

For those of us who are following God, He wants simple gifts from us: obedience to His commandments and holding to the testimony of Jesus (Rev. 12:17b). Amazing to know that our God longs for our obedience as our gift to Him.

What did He give us? Revelation tells us the dramatic story of Jesus’ birth in 12:5: “She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.” Though this chapter of Revelation is speaking of the nation Israel as the ethnicity through which the Messiah was delivered to earth, it is not too far of a stretch to see that it also speaks of Mary giving birth to Jesus.  Everything about the birth of Jesus seems fraught with danger—a young woman giving birth in a stable (not a clean or sterile environment). She is far from home and the support of family and friends, and her pregnancy itself is a disgrace. Yet she and Joseph were obedient to the commands of God given by His angel to each of them. And the Messiah, God’s Son, His gift to us, was born on earth—God’s gift to us.

This beautiful Christmas season may we not be distracted by the work of decorating, shopping and wrapping. Instead, may we see the true Christmas hidden amongst the tinsel and celebrate with our whole hearts, giving our Lord obedience and holding to the testimony of Jesus. May we pray for those who need to return to the Lord to do that today.

Eat a Christmas cookie, sit by your beautiful Christmas tree in the evening glow, and enjoy all that your Messiah came to give you—a Savior who loves you and who gave His life to forgive all your sin. What gift could be better than that?

Merry almost Christmas!


- Nell Sunukjian

How did God speak to you in Scripture today? Click here to share your reflections on God's word or read past posts. We'd love to hear from you.

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