His Coming. Christmas Devotional. December 2
There’s Mamas and Daddys sitting by bedsides in pediatric intensive care units this morning–waiting for any signs of healing. Sons and daughters–waiting as their parents take their last breath. Children waiting in orphanages and temporary homes–waiting to go back home or someone to take them to their new forever home. Others–waiting for the phone to ring to hear the doctor’s voice–news of health tests– the call, an offer of a much needed job. And others just waiting–waiting for things to change for the better.
And sometimes the hardest part is not the news–it’s in the waiting.
Dr. David Jeremiah wrote, “Israel was a dying nation, filled with confusion and doubt. Everyone yearned for the great days of the kings—David, Solomon and all their glory. And it was here that the prophets—men such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Micah—urged the people to keep the faith. Their message was, Wait for one more King. This one will be the greatest of all, and He will end our struggle forever.
“Wait for one more king. This One will be the greatest of all, and He will end our struggle forever. Our light in the dark. Wait, for He is coming.”
How is it we wait through the difficult, the hard, the tears, the pain, the silence, the uncertainty of tomorrow. Pray and pray harder. Hold on and hold on tighter. Hold on to Him. And even though it seems at times God is silent in our waiting–never doubt He’s not working in the quiet. He never left the children of Israel. And He will never leave us. He promised. He’s coming again.
Psalm 62: 5-7, My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation: He is my defence; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
Psalm 121:1-2, I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
Hebrews 13:5, For He hath said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee”
Isaiah 7:14, Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Titus 2:13, Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
While in the waiting season of my Grandpa’s dying I would sit by his bedside. And on days when his breath was strong he would talk. He told me how he and my Grandmother drove to the orphanage to get my Daddy. In my family the adoption was not talked about, but on this night my Grandpa remembered.
As I was looking through old memories a few years ago I found one of my Daddy’s baby photos. I remembered what my Grandpa said about their drive home– how my Daddy was sitting in my Grandmother’s lap and he looked at my Grandpa and smiled at him.
And my mind began to wonder–this baby, my Daddy–he was sitting up and smiling–he had to be older than an infant. And I didn’t ask my Grandpa on that day Daddy’s age…how I wish I could relive that moment and ask more questions.
My Daddy’s birthday–September 9th. A little over three months old and he could have very well spent his first Christmas at the orphanage. And God knew my grandparents were coming.
Jesus–He’s coming. For certain–He’s coming. God promised. And we wait.
How can we be a gift this Christmas….
Show your love to a child in need this Christmas. Call your local schools–ask to sponsor a child this Christmas–volunteer throughout the year. Seek out a family who are foster parents–ask what are the most needed items. Find a local children’s home and ask how you can help a child this Christmas. Seek out organizations who provide needs for children and give what you can, purchase products in support of orphan care. Consider becoming a foster parent–a lunch buddy.
And always, every chance include your children in the ministry of giving. Make Christmas cards for the children in the children’s homes. Collect and donate items such as cereal and other household goods, toys.
Psalm 82:3, Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.
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