Daily Devotional
Do You View Christmas with Eternal Perspective?
“Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, ‘Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.’”
Luke 2:34-35
December 24, 2023
Ponder This
A man went down to the train station and people were getting off the train and meeting loved ones. And there was embracing and kissing and great joy. But he saw some men walk up, they had a man in handcuffs, and they were leading him away on the train. Evidently, he was going to jail. His wife and children were weeping and wailing as the man was being led away. That’s a picture of the coming of Jesus. What joy it will be to those of us who know Him. What joy it will be when we have that grand reunion, when we meet our loved ones when Jesus comes. But how sad it will be for some, who’ll be bound and cast into outer darkness.
Jesus is dividing, and He will divide for all eternity. At the judgment, He will divide between the sheep and the goats, the saved and the lost. And His decision will not be based on finances or the opinion of society, but the Lamb’s book of life. We divide people by social status. We say upper class, middle class, and lower class. But God divides right and left, saved or lost. He is the Christ with the sword in His hand. The baby in Bethlehem changed the playing field. Will you share in the joy when He comes?
- On what basis do you most often judge people? What does God judge by?
- Why is it important at Christmas to remember the coming return of Jesus?
Practice This
Share the hope of Jesus with others as you tell the story of the first Christmas.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
