December 26, 2018 - CHRISTMAS RESPONSE

Day 360 - (Today’s Bible readings: Judges 7; Psalm 145; Acts 13:13-41)

Today is a day when many are responding to Christmas by standing in the return lines to get rid of unwanted presents. And, sadly, some Christmas trees are actually being set on the curb. For these folks, Christmas is over. How sad this is. Epiphany, the coming of the Wise Men isn’t until January 6th. Many don’t appear to get what Christmas is really all about.

Psalm 145 begins with a perfect response to what brought many of us to our churches over the last two days.

“I will extol you, my God and King,
    and bless your name forever and ever.
Every day I will bless you
    and praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
    and his greatness is unsearchable.
One generation shall commend your works to another,
    and shall declare your mighty acts.” (Psalm 145:1-4 ESV) 

Great is the Lord who sent His only begotten Son that first Christmas to be our Savior from sin. Because of this, like David, we get praise Him forever and ever.

David then directs us to share our faith with the next generation, so they may also know the Lord’s mighty acts. “One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.” 

Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born!

Lord Jesus, thank You for coming to earth that first Christmas to be my Savior. I am glad that this celebration continues. Please use me to pass the Christmas message on to the next generation. Amen. 

Pastor David Paape 

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings from the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings  
Then scroll down to 2018 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!