I have the privilege of co-teaching an 8 grade girl's class
at church. These young ladies are absolutely
amazing!!! This past Sunday we talked
about how the Christmas story can become so commonplace that it loses its
significance. Like many of the stories
in scripture, they become so familiar that we can recite them without feeling
the weight of the story itself.
But this shouldn't be.
Think about it.
Generations of Israelites have lived without a hearing a word from the
Father. Silence. Deafening silence. Many Israelites began making up rules and
traditions that they thought would help them win God's favor until the promised
Messiah would come. Some just lost hope
and eventually stopped believing altogether.
However, some continued to pass the prophecies down to their
children and grandchildren. They believed
their God was faithful and would fulfill His promises. They knew that one day the story of the Messiah
would no longer remain only a story.
That one day Emmanuel would become flesh and be with His people.
400 years.
Silence broken by an infant's cry.
Silence broken by angels singing of the long awaited
Messiah.
Silence broken as men and women who had lost hope began to
believe.
Maybe this year your heart has been silent. You aren't in the Christmas Spirit and the
holidays seem monotonous and lackluster.
It could be that you have lost a loved one this year, or that you aren’t
spending the holidays with family and friends.
Maybe this year the Christmas story has become underwhelming and
commonplace in your life. You aren't
alone. We have all been there.
Father,
overwhelm us with You and the undeserved gift of your Son. Remind us of the hope that only you can
give. Break through the silence in our
hearts and show us your glory.