Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America

Fourth Day of Christmas

Posted on December 28, 2018 by Pastor Dulas under Devotions
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Scripture: Isaiah 46:3-13 (NKJV)
 
3 “Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, And all the remnant of the house of Israel, Who have been upheld by Me from birth, Who have been carried from the womb: 4 Even to your old age, I am He, And even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; Even I will carry, and will deliver you.
 
5 “To whom will you liken Me, and make Me equal And compare Me, that we should be alike? 6 They lavish gold out of the bag, And weigh silver on the scales; They hire a goldsmith, and he makes it a god; They prostrate themselves, yes, they worship. 7 They bear it on the shoulder, they carry it And set it in its place, and it stands; From its place it shall not move. Though one cries out to it, yet it cannot answer Nor save him out of his trouble.
 
8 “Remember this, and show yourselves men; Recall to mind, O you transgressors. 9 Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying,`My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’ 11 Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man who executes My counsel, from a far country. Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it. 12 “Listen to Me, you stubborn-hearted, Who are far from righteousness: 13 I bring My righteousness near, it shall not be far off; My salvation shall not linger. And I will place salvation in Zion, For Israel My glory.
 
Devotion
 
By the Fourth Day of Christmas much of the newness of Christmas and Christmas gifts has worn off. After all, those new “toys” are already four days old! Indeed, how fleeting are our affections, especially toward the Lord who has saved us. This is why today’s reading from Isaiah is so comforting: “Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been upheld by Me from birth, who have been carried from the womb: Even to your old age, I am He, and even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; Even I will carry, and will deliver you.”
 
In spite of our lack of faithfulness, God remains faithful. He is the One who upholds you! He is the One who carries you! He is the One who “will deliver you!” Just when the newness of Christmas seems to be wearing off, God sends His Spirit to renew in you “a right spirit.” When you begin to fall, He upholds you. When you can’t go on, He reminds you that He is carrying you. When you begin to doubt, He delivers you.
 
Your salvation is God’s work, His never-ending gift to you.
Merry Christmas!
 
We pray: Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that the brightness of Thy glory may shine forth upon us and that the light of Thy light, by illumination of the Holy Spirit, may establish the hearts of all that have been born anew by Thy grace; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. Amen.
 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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