The Seventh Day of Christmas
It’s the Seventh Day of Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Do you have big plans?
Many of our Christian siblings are attending watch night services this evening, surrounding themselves with prayer, hymns, and readings from scripture. One of those readings comes from the Prophet Micah, who said this:
“6 With what should I approach the Lord
and bow down before God on high?
Should I come before him with entirely burned offerings,
with year-old calves?
7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
with many torrents of oil?
Should I give my oldest child for my crime;
the fruit of my body for the sin of my spirit?
8 He has told you, human one, what is good and
what the Lord requires from you:
to do justice, embrace faithful love, and walk humbly with your God.”
Micah delivered these words to the powers that be of his time, who did more harm than good, and did it in the name of God. His message is simple: you can make all the sacrifices in the world, give all the gifts possible, but if that isn’t matched with goodness to others, the gifts are found wanting. And, yet, even though we are often found wanting in what we do, Jesus still came down to earth on Christmas Day to meet us, teach us, and save us.
What if your plans for tonight, tomorrow, and into the New Year included being more just, loving, and humble as a way to give thanks to God for the gift of Jesus?
Oh, and be good out there tonight!
In Christ,
Pastor Jarrod