Christmas Day
December 25, 2018
Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26
Samuel was ministering before the Lord, a boy wearing a linen ephod. His mother used to make for him a little robe and take it to him each year, when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, ‘May the Lord repay you with children by this woman for the gift that she made to the Lord’; and then they would return to their home.
Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and with the people.
Samuel was promised to God as his mother prayed for him since she had not yet conceived and longed for a child. She followed through on her promised and delivered him to the Priest Eli when he was a small child. He was thus groomed from the start to be the prophet he was to become. Jesus was conceived in dedication to service to God and his birth marked the beginning of his growth in God’s plan.
We usually think of New Years Day as a day of new beginnings when we set goals for getting more exercise, using our income more wisely, eating right, or being a more responsible consumer. Christmas Day is very much about new beginnings. The darkness and waiting of Advent are over Christ is born. Now is the time to work on Kingdom building by His side.
This is a day of new beginnings,
time to remember, and move on,
time to believe what love is bringing,
laying to rest the pain that’s gone.
Christ is alive, and goes before us
to show and share what love can do.
This is a day of new beginnings;
our God is making all things new*.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for the new beginning you sent to us in your Son. Guide us as we grow in truth. Amen.
*First and fourth verses of This Is a Day of New Beginnings by Bryan Wren, See at https://www.hopepublishing.com/find-hymns-hw/hw2386.aspx