WEEK 1: LOOK TO THE LIGHT / DAY 5: Miracles
By Pastor Courtney Hall (Thu. Dec. 2, 2021)
Christmas itself is a miracle: the event of God’s arrival among us, as one of us, to teach & guide us, to live & die for us, to rise again for us, to save & redeem us—these are the Christ’s gifts to us. God being with us and for us is a miracle of Good News! The fact that the Messiah’s coming was long foretold and faithfully fulfilled, heralded by the stars in the heavens & angels on the earth, and achieved through the wondrous pregnancy of a virgin as prophesied—all of these are miraculous!
But there are other, “smaller” miracles in the Christmas story at which we also marvel: the human kindness that afforded shelter to a humble young couple in a stable when there was no room for them in the inn (Luke 2:7); the entourage of eastern dignitaries bringing royal gifts to that same humble little family, giving them provision for the years ahead (Matt 2:11); the confirming enthusiasm of an elderly man & a widowed woman in the Temple when that little family of Joseph, Mary & Jesus came for the Child Christ’s dedication (Luke 2:22-38). Acts of human kindness inspired by God’s holiness that shined divine light into a darkened world.
Even today and in this Christmas season, small acts of thoughtfulness you can show to others will reveal God’s glorious goodness in miraculous ways. And never doubt that God is still in the business of doing everything He has promised, even when the promise may seem to us impossible.
Whatever God promises to do, He shall surely do it--even if it involves the "impossible." In the process, Jesus reminds us through His very Incarnation that God is ALWAYS with us (cf. Dt 31:6; Is 7:14; Mt 1:23; 28:20; Heb 13:5). Rejoice in His miraculous Presence today!
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SCRIPTURE READING: Isaiah 7:14
“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with Child and bear a Son, and she will call His name Immanuel [which means 'God With Us']." (Compare also Matthew 1:22-23; Luke 1:26-37)
