23rd - 29th December 2024
Christmas Week! How quickly it seems to have come around again. It’s hard to believe this Wednesday will be Christmas Day. How are your preparations going? Have you managed to get all your presents bought? Maybe you’re one of those last-minute people who loves to do some Christmas Eve shopping or maybe you’re all prepared and heading out to soak up some of the Christmas atmosphere in a more relaxed way? Whichever side of the fence you sit on, let’s not lose sight of why we celebrate at this time of year. We’ve already reflected on how Christmas is Love, Joy and Hope over the past few services. We have so much to celebrate and give thanks for at this time of year.
As we conclude our focus on Advent and preparation for celebrating the real meaning of Christmas, I’ve been drawn again to what is sometimes referred to as a haunting and evocative carol, translated from Latin by John M Neale in 1851. It is of course, ‘O Come, O Come, Emmanuel’. The carol takes us back to the time when Israel, God’s chosen people, were exiled and looking for Messiah to come and save them.
And yes, Jesus has come, he has lived, he has died, he is risen, he is ascended and he reigns. This is what we celebrate because we know that Emmanuel has come and yet we still wait for him to return again and, as we do, our bodies groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for the adoption as sons and daughters of God, with the redemption bodies (Romans 8:23). I think this is the ultimate challenge, for us to wait for the revealing of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour (1 Corinthians 1:7), when he returns again and ushers in the end of this time and the reality of the eternal life and a new heaven and new earth. What a day that will be!
And, until that day comes, we still see the effects of sin in our world and in our own lives. Death still separates, disease still brings tears and misery, anxiety still attacks and debilitates, our flesh still battles against our spirit, sin still hinders and Satan is still out to devour and destroy us.
Our life as followers of Jesus still swings between the overflowing joy of our salvation, that we are redeemed, that we have been bought with a price, that we have peace with God and the reality of the tearful yearning of the ‘not yet’, the what is still to come, the hope that is living, the expectation of all things being made new, the new heaven, the new earth. No wonder Paul talked about followers of Jesus being sorrowful and at the same time always rejoicing (2 Corinthians 6:10). This is life and it is hard and messy and at the same time full of hope and expectation because Emmanuel has come, God with us!
In a world where those that follow Jesus are becoming more marginalised, persecuted and seen as strangers, we look all the more towards Jesus and are reminded of the hope we have because of him. That this world is not our home and, as we strive to follow Jesus, we are called to be lights in the darkness of a world that does not know or believe in him.
This carol in many ways reminds us of hope, the hope that the coming of Jesus brings, the hope that reaches down into our weak hearts and pulls us up, reminding us we have a place to stand in God’s grace and that darkness is always overcome by light, that death’s dark shadows are put to flight because Jesus has come, lived, died and been raised again so we can have an eternal life!
So, we can sing with hearts full despite the challenges we face in life, ‘Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanuel, Shall Come to thee, O Israel’, in an understanding that this season reminds us of God’s great love for us in sending his only Son, Jesus, as a baby to be God with us and through this we can have peace with God.
Written by David Mairs
MONDAY
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light. Isaiah 9:2a
As we continue to think about Advent and Christmas Day, only a few days away, let us take time to consider those we know who are living in darkness. Family, neighbours, work colleagues and friends. And then there are those we do not know personally … the vulnerable, the marginalised and the unreached people of this world. Pray that in this Christmas season the light of the gospel would break into the lives of those we know and are praying for and for those we do not know and have maybe never even heard of Jesus. Let’s pray that Jesus would be revealed, that darkness would be dispelled and that lives would be saved.
TUESDAY
On those living in the land of deep darkness, a light has dawned. Isaiah 9:2b
I’ve always been intrigued by this Woody Allen quote about death, “It’s not that I am afraid to die, I just don’t want to be there when it happens.” I wonder why he said this. The reality for all of us is that we will be there if Jesus does not return first. Dying is a certainty of living. We cannot escape it. If anything, over this past year we have witnessed the ongoing inhumanity of man towards man with wars, killings and the spectre of death is never far from our news. The reality that death is part of life cannot be avoided. Many people we know face either the fear of death or the numbing pain of bereavement. In the midst of such a reality of darkness there is the promise of God that the light will shine. In Psalm 23 we are reminded that “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” The promise is for the light of the presence of God to be with those going through the valley of darkness. Take time to pray for those you know who are struggling with the loss of a loved one.
WEDNESDAY
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
Christmas Day! I just want to shout … Hallelujah … thank you, Father, for sending your Son, Jesus, into this world with the purpose of dying for my sins! Now let us ponder the names that the Son of God, Emmanuel, is called! Many people live in the darkness of confusion, weighed down by the decisions that they need to make. In God we have one who is the Wonderful Counsellor, a Mighty God, an Everlasting Father and the Prince of Peace. And his promise is to be with us. Wow! Let’s not lose sight of this truth as we celebrate Christmas with family and friends. Give thanks for Jesus and all that he means to you.
THURSDAY
Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing it and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. Isaiah 9:7
Justice and Righteousness. When we reflect on our world leaders, governments and politicians, these are words which do not always seem to fit easily with what we see, hear and experience. In so many places there is division, discrimination, bias and a lack of justice and righteousness. People across the world are living in fear, others are dying of starvation, many have been displaced, many face persecution, wars and rumours of war breed fear and uncertainty. Darkness covers the earth. In the promises of the coming of Jesus we are given a picture of one who governs with justice and righteousness. Jesus is the one who alone can bring peace. He is the Prince of Peace. Take time to think of one place in the world where people are suffering and pray for them. Ask God to bring his peace into the lives of those who are living in fear.
FRIDAY
God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5b
I wonder if you have an open fire or stove that you need to clean! Every time I go to clean the fire or stove, I seem to get soot all over my hands and clothes. There are marks all over me. Tainted by soot! You always know if I’ve cleaned the fire or stove! It reminds me that there is darkness around us. We see the symptoms of it everywhere. People suffering all around us – fear, uncertainty, even hopelessness. It is easy for us to be tainted by it all. To become either hardened or apathetic. Yet with God there is no darkness. God is light that is pure. There is no taint of anything on God – no darkness. Even the darkest situations and circumstances can be penetrated by him. Light has come. What a wonderful thought that raises up the prospect of hope, hope that is certain and assured. Ask God to show you where you have become hardened to the plight of others, ask him to soften your heart. Ask God to show you where you have lost the will to do good and ask him to help you to be light in the darkness.
SATURDAY
In his name the nations will put their hope. Matthew 12:21
There is a song by River Valley Worship that has these words … ‘Hope has a name! His name is Jesus, My Saviour’s cross has set this sinner free, Hope has a name, His name is Jesus’. What a wonderful thought … hope has a name and it is in the name of Jesus that nations will put their hope. Take time to thank God for Jesus. Pray that the nations would put their hope in him.
SUNDAY
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. 1 Peter 1:3-4
In our series on Ephesians, we have been reminded of God’s amazing grace in our lives. We will soon be considering the importance of standing firm in this grace and being armoured up so that we can live effective lives for him. I just love the fact that our hope is assured and living and we can, as a result of this truth, praise God with thankful hearts. Take time to thank God for Jesus, to thank him for his great mercy, to thank him for the living hope you can enjoy each and every day. Thank him for the assurance of salvation and the inheritance that awaits. Ask him to help you bring hope to others as we approach the start of another year.