And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” (Revelation 21:5, ESV)
For all the well-intentioned Jesus-is-the-reason-for-the-season talk that circulates among Christians this time of year, many of us would sheepishly admit that we tend to gloss over the nativity scenes ourselves. We walk through the carol singing and the candlelighting and the gift giving and the feasting and emerge on the other side with little spiritual thrust to show for it.
The One who will make all things new in the end can even now make his wonder new for you.Perhaps this is true because the accounts that begin, “In those days Caesar Augustus…” really do comprise the old, old story. And if we’ve been around long enough, we have heard it so often that it carries the same impact as our buddy Brian telling us all again about the time he drove a golf cart into the lake. Even the best stories fade in their habitual retelling.
This is where we need to remind ourselves of two incredible Scripture passages:
– Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)
– The Word of God is living and active. (Hebrews 4:12)
With these truths in mind, we can find ourselves excited again not only about the timelessness of the ancient stories, but also their timeliness. The Bible does not need to be made relevant to us; it is relevant to us.
And so…
…in Mary, we find the fear of a young woman thrust into a role she’s not sure she can handle.
…in Joseph, we find a man caught between compassion and criticism.
…in Augustus, we find a king pushing for power.
…in the shepherds, we find the impoverished seeking hope beyond their wildest dreams.
…in the Magi, we find learned men applying their best knowledge and a fixed devotion to finding the answer they’ve always wanted.
…in Anna and Simeon, we find two older devotees rewarded in their faith after years of prayer and patience.
You see, the people of old are people we know today—you, me, our neighbors, our friends. When we look at them closely in the story, it comes to life again for us. And the One who will make all things new in the end can even now make his wonder new for you and allow you to truly rejoice in the Reason for the season.
—
Jeff Hopper
December 23, 2015
Copyright 2015 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.