Morning Devotional:
It was a bit of a sad day at my house yesterday. Christmas came to an end.
I spent the afternoon taking down my Christmas decorations. The door swag with the twinkle lights is back in its bag, the ornaments are all packed up and the Christmas tree is back in its box, ready for next December’s festivities. As I finished cleaning up and looked at my now bare living room, I couldn’t help but think, “The fun and excitement of Christmas is over. Now what do I do?”
I was starting to get a case of the after-Christmas blues. The house was back to normal and here I was, feeling deflated and dreading the “normal” of a boring winter season ahead. But the Lord offered me a gentle but powerful reminder to help ward off my case of the doldrums.
The good news of Christmas didn’t end in a stable in Bethlehem. Mankind had to wait another thirty years for the story to continue to unfold. In the meantime, the shepherds, Simeon and Anna, the Magi, Joseph and Mary went on with their everyday lives, carrying what they knew of the good news of Jesus with them wherever they went. They knew their long awaited Messiah had come. They saw the promise and in that, they could wait a little while longer. They could walk out their normal day-to-day stuff with hope because they had set their eyes on Jesus.
You and I can do the same thing because we have seen the fulfillment of God’s promise to us. The world has not only seen Jesus’ arrival, but we have also witnessed His death and resurrection. If you’re experiencing the post-Christmas letdown and dreading the back to normal, fix your eyes on the gift God has given you. Look to Jesus and things will start looking up!
– Beth
The Burning Question:
It’s National Clean Off Your Desk Day. What surprise treasures have you found when you were cleaning?
Bible Quiz:
Question: Whom did Jesus tell not to weep for him?
Answer: The daughters of Jerusalem (Luke 23:28)