Friday December 23, 2022
Numbers 6:24
“The LORD bless you and keep you.”
Yes, may the Lord bless you as you go about your work, striving to make others happy at Christmas time.
God grant that both you and I may wear ourselves out making things pleasant for others. That is what He did, born yon Christmas night. Think of Him when you feel tired and weary!
As you go about your tasks washing, and dusting, and polishing, and decorating for Christmas, may the Lord bless your work!
But do not forget yourself!
There is no doubt a great deal of dust in many a corner of your heart. A Christmas housecleaning! A general accounting before God toward the close of the year. Then the old Christmas Gospel of the Savior who was born will fill your poor soul with the glorious music of Christmas.
And then a word to you, you who go about your work making things ready for Christmas for yourself and your dear ones without a thought of Him who brought Christmas to this earth of ours. Perhaps you, too, will sing Christmas carols, and perhaps you also will read the Christmas Gospel together with your dear ones after the tree has been lighted. Perhaps you will feel that the rusty strings of your soul have been touched again. But a longing, a sigh, perhaps a tear—and you lay aside both the Book and the “Child.”
My friend, there was nothing festive about being born in a manger and dying on a cross.
But He could not endure to think that your life should be filled with empty joys and real sorrows and that you should at last pass on into unfathomable and endless woe.
However, after He has made ready to celebrate Christmas with you, you push Him quietly out through the door. You feel that your Christmas joy would vanish if Jesus should remain.
Be converted to God now, and yours will be a new joy and a new Christmas.
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD 