THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2013
Zechariah 9:1–17
Revelation 17:1–18
Psalm 145:1–21
Proverbs 30:32
The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.
The Lord is good to all;
he has compassion on all he has made.
All your works praise you, Lord;
your faithful people extol you.
They tell of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might,
so that all people may know of your mighty acts
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises
and faithful in all he does.
The Lord upholds all who fall
and lifts up all who are bowed down.
The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food at the proper time.
You open your hand
and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
The Lord is righteous in all his ways
and faithful in all he does.
The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cry and saves them.
The Lord watches over all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.
My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord.
Let every creature praise his holy name
for ever and ever.
(Psalm 145:8–21)
To continue with Nikkie’s theme from yesterday, these words from Psalm 145 provide a hopeful interlude during these last days of 2013 and a welcome spot in which to plant our hearts for 2014. Given that we worship the living God, Who is faithful and loving to all He has made, we may trust in His provision and purpose for our lives. We have great reason to celebrate at the coming of our Lord Jesus in the Incarnation.
Here, the psalmist David remembers God’s graciousness, compassion, goodness, might, eternity, provision, righteousness, proximity or imminence, joy-giving, and protection. For all these qualities, God deserves praise “forever and ever.”
Let’s just touch upon God’s proximity or imminence, a promise to which we all cling in challenging moments: “The Lord is near to all who call on him,/ to all who call on him in truth.” What an amazing concept! Because of our sin, we deserve nothing but wrath from God, and yet He instead turns to hear the cries of His people. David clearly anticipates struggles in life, and He provided an excellent example of beseeching God’s mercy and favor.
I would like to grow in trusting God. Rather than maneuvering to determine a self-driven solution, I am grateful for circumstances that require more than snap fixes. In these instances, God receives more honor and praise as He works on our behalf. Lord Jesus, please bring the right heart for our dear sister Heidi so that You may receive more glory and praise. We need Your help in this hour.
In our efforts to serve and love people, we also seek to provide this incarnational presence. Many of you have participated in love projects during this Christmastime, both through Grace Church and among your family and friends. Praise God! May we carry forth this spirit of others-mindedness into 2014. Please find below some direction for this journey from Henry van Dyke’s 1905 book, The Spirit of Christmas:
“Are you willing to stoop down and consider the needs and the desires of little children; to remember the weakness and loneliness of people who are growing old; to stop asking how much your friends love you, and ask yourself whether you love them enough; to bear in mind the things that other people have to bear on their hearts; to try to understand what those who live in the same house with you really want, without waiting for them to tell you; to trim your lamp so that it will give more light and less smoke, and to carry it in front so that your shadow will fall behind you; to make a grave for your ugly thoughts, and a garden for your kindly feelings, with the gate open – are you willing to do these things even for a day? Then you can keep Christmas.”
Merry Christmas, friends!
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