The Coming of Christmas By Ed McDowell

Are you ready for the coming of Christmas?

Receive these words with the coming of Christmas.  Hold them in your heart. Speak these words to others.

“Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.”

Luke 1:78-79, NLT

These words were spoken as the first Christmas was approaching.  They are the words of a father, spoken at the celebration of his son’s birth.  Zachariah, the father of John the Baptist, spoke these words to everyone gathered.

Believe

We live in a time where the world longs for these words to be spoken and believed in as Christmas approaches: 

“Because of God’s tender mercy,” Christmas expresses God’s tender mercy for you and me. Receive His tender mercy for you today. Let it pour over your life.

 “…the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us,” Jesus comes, angels light up the skies, and creation rejoices with the coming of Christmas. Something especially good is happening.

 “…to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,” So many are living in hard times where life is difficult and not easy to carry the weight of it.  God sends His Son, Jesus, to give light where we think all is lost. The coming of Christmas reminds us that there is so much more than the deep challenges of this moment.  Jesus saves, heals, forgives, and restores us with new purpose and meaning to live for.

“…and to guide us to the path of peace.”  Our bones ache for peace.  The coming of Christmas invites us to a path of peace through Jesus Christ.  With the coming of Christmas, take in the peace Christ offers you.

Prayer

Dear Father God,

Thank You for the coming of Christmas.  Thank You for the words a father spoke at his son’s birth.  Please receive these words as our prayer today.

“Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.”

We pray this in the name of the one who is the center of Christmas, Jesus Christ, Your Son,

Amen

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Ed McDowell is the CEO of Warm Beach Camp. He has extensive experience overseeing and directing ministry organizations, including stewardship development, personnel, and organizational management.

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