Devotional 12-3-22

Matthew 3: 1-12

What a wonderful time of year this is!  We just finished Thanksgiving and most of us are anxiously awaiting with full hearts the Christmas celebration.  There are many preparations to be made, and we want to reach out to those that we care about and invite them to be a part of our celebration.  For some  it’s a time to let by-gones be by-gones; to let go of things of the past that might have angered us or annoyed us.  It is a time to concentrate on our loved ones and those around us, some who we might not even know very well, that need to be able to experience true warmth and love and caring.
For me and my house the only thing better than the food at Thanksgiving is the food at Christmas.  Many, years ago my sweet sister brought home a sugar cookie recipe from Home Economics.  It quickly became a family tradition that we still share to this day.  Only now we have shared it with extended family and friends, not just our immediate family.  That recipe has brightened a lot of holidays!  

This is perhaps part of the mindset John the Baptist had when he urged…”repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”  He did not want anyone to miss the coming of the kingdom!  John wanted people to put away their evil ways and realize that something better was in the future.  He wanted everyone he could reach to know that something very special was about to happen.  

So, this Christmas, and every Christmas in your life, remember the mission of John the Baptist.  Try to remind everyone that the birth of Christ, while life altering for all of us, is just a sneak preview of the magnificence of the kingdom of heaven that is near.  Make sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ a tradition that touches the lives of your loved ones and even the people you do not know as well.  It will change your lives and theirs.  Praise be to God!

Angie Durbin