Wow, there's lots of snow out there. I woke this morning loo,king forward to our Christmas Eve candle light service, only to see 2 inches of new snow already, and more on the way. Where does it all come from? One of our Elders reminded me of Job 38:22, Have you entered the treasury of snow, Or have you seen the treasury of hail, Which I have reserved for the time of trouble, For the day of battle and war? Maybe now it feels like you could answer, "Yes, I've seen it." There's another weather report in Psalm 147, He gives snow like wool; He scatters the frost like ashes; He casts out His hail like morsels; Who can stand before His cold? He sends out His word and melts them; He causes His wind to blow, and the waters flow.
Yes, God gives out snow, but also gives out His word. This year I was particular struck by the Shepherds of Luke 2, how the theme of "told" reoccurs in the story. The good news was made known to them, they went and saw that it was "just as they were told" and so they told others, making it "widely known."
Isaiah says that as the snow from heaven waters the earth...bringing life and fruitfulness, so shall God's word be (Isa 55:10-11). Isaiah also tells us the result of hearing and believing God's good news about the Savior: Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. God sent Jesus our Savior to remove our sins, to cover them over in His own righteousness. And unlike this present covering of snow, His forgiveness, His cleansing lasts forever!
Church services cancelled, but still we worship
I was looking froward to church today. It's Christmas Sunday, this was the time for us to remind each other and all who visit and worship with us what were given for Christmas. But, a foot of snow and a layer of ice on top of it makes it dangerous to get out. So, we'll stay home and celebrate together what we were given for Christmas--even before we open presents--cause what we really were given for Christmas is a savior! So, how to celebrate??? The shepherds who first heard the good news of great joy to all people...that a savior has been born in Luke 2:8:14 celebrated three ways.
- They settled it for themselves--they went to see what they had been told (2:15). They heard the good news from God's messengers, they believed it, so they went to see Him, Jesus, Himself, for themselves. Everything else comes after that. God gave us a Savior, any other celebration flows out of our first knowing Him.
- They told everyone they could (2:17). They told not only that this child was born, but what the angels said it meant. That He was the Christ, He was a Savior, He was given for all people, and that in Him was real peace. They caused quite a stir, and perhaps some what not sure what to make of these newly declared evangelists, but they had good news for all people which could not be kept to themselves. This is a time of year when we get fresh opportunities to tell. even in answering that question, "So what did you get for Christmas?" Go ahead, tell them what you were given-a Savior!
- They went out in worship (2:20). We had hoped to come in to church together to worship, after all it's Christmas Sunday. We wanted to have at least the 11:00 service if at all possible, but, weather doesn't determine whether or not we worship. We come to church to worship and we go back to our field, our home, our work or school, to worship. God has called us, in whatever lonely corner He found us, He gave us the good news, great joy, a Savior. Life is now different even though it seems much the same. Now life is a place of worship. In whatever setting He places us we will praise and glorify him.
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