Just Another Day?
The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus.
Acts 3:13
In Christmas Every Day, William Dean Howells tells of a little girl who gets her wish. For one long, horrible year it is indeed Christmas every day. By day three, the yuletide joy has already begun to wear thin. Before long everyone hates candy. Turkeys become scarce and sell for outrageous prices. Presents are no longer received with gratitude as they pile up everywhere. People angrily snap at each other.
Thankfully, Howell’s story is just a satirical tale. But what an incredible blessing that the subject of the Christmas celebration never wearies us despite the fact that we see Him throughout the Bible.
After Jesus had ascended to His Father, the apostle Peter proclaimed to a crowd at the temple in Jerusalem that Jesus was the one Moses foretold when he said, “God will raise up for you a prophet like me” (Acts 3:22; Deuteronomy 18:18). God’s promise to Abraham, “Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed,” was really a reference to Jesus (Acts 3:25; Genesis 22:18). Peter noted, “All the prophets who have spoken have foretold these days”—the arrival of the Messiah (Acts 3:24).
We can keep the spirit of Christmas alive long after the celebrations have ended. By seeing Christ in the whole story of the Bible we can appreciate how Christmas is so much more than just another day.
By Tim Gustafson
REFLECT & PRAY
This year, as you pack up the Christmas decorations, don’t put away the spirit of Christmas.
Father, thank You for giving us Your Son, and for giving us His Story on the pages of the Bible.
Your gift changes lives. Help us share God’s love with millions every day.
INSIGHT
The book of Acts describes how the Spirit of God enabled followers of Jesus to spread the word of what they had seen with their eyes (Acts 1:8). Their witness was given credibility by miracles (3:1-10), care for one another (6:1-7), a love for their enemies, and a willingness to suffer and die for their life-changing story (7:59-8:4).
From the temple of Jerusalem to a prison in Rome, they told how the long-awaited King and Savior of Israel had been crucified (3:17-18). Together they showed how the Jewish Scriptures could be read with a new understanding (8:26-35), and even how other religious beliefs (17:16-31) could be seen in light of a resurrected Savior and Lord. Mart DeHaan
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