Daily Thought For December 23, 2015

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The Purifying Power of God's Love

As the old man sat looking out the window, the children ran laughing and squealing through the house in anticipation of Christmas Day. Recalling past celebrations, he was filled with painful memories of his impatience and failures. If only he could go back in time and erase all the hurts he had caused. If only he could be sure that God really had forgiven him …

 Have you ever felt like this? Have you ever wanted to wipe the past clean so that you can enjoy the present more fully? If so, today’s readings are for you.

 Malachi prophesied that a “messenger of the covenant” would purify all the “descendants of Levi” (Malachi 3:1, 3). He promised that God would cleanse his people of all impurities so that they could draw near to him again. As Christians, we know that this prophecy pointed to the blood that Jesus would shed on the cross, divine blood that has the power not only to forgive our sins but to cleanse our consciences as well and bring us right into the presence of God.

 Psalm 25 tells us that God “guides the humble to justice, he teaches the humble his way” (25:9). This is the best way to prepare for Christmas. Rather than running around trying to do everything right, we would do better simply to take on a disposition of quiet humility and openness to Jesus.

 Try an experiment in your prayer today. In your mind, step away from all the demands of Christmas preparations, and sit quietly in Jesus’ presence. Picture his love raining down upon you, soaking through your body and into your heart. Imagine this rain washing you clean. See the dust and dirt of life in this world washing off of you and disappearing. Once you are clean, draw near to God—again, not by trying to make yourself lovable, but just by resting in his presence.

 Next, look up at the sun. See how its rays warm you and give you light. With this in mind, let Jesus warm your heart and give light to your path today. Just stay with him. Just be humble. L et Jesus draw close to you.

 “Lord Jesus, thank you for setting me free. I rejoice in you. I ask you to draw near to me.”
Daily Reflection from The Word Among Us (www.wau.org)

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