Thought for 15 December

 Isaiah 9: 6

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

 

Who among us thought that we would still be in the grip of this pandemic? I think most people imagined the vaccines would allow us freedom but we know better now. The housing development where I live is still under certain restrictions, another Christmas dinner to be eaten in our own flats because the dining room is still out of bounds.

However covid 19 is not the only pandemic we are living with. What about the pandemic of sin? We have lived with that one since Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, ignoring the fact the God provided a ‘vaccine’ in the form of His Son, who was born to take our sin on Himself.

Just like the antivaxxers at present there are so many who are against the healing sent by our Almighty Father. Jesus was born as a baby and grew up without sin so that He could be the unblemished Lamb, sacrificed for us.

Do we really appreciate this sacrifice the way we should or is it just part of the bible stories we remember from Sunday school, ‘stories’ that we take for granted without giving them a thought?

Jesus willingly laid aside His place in Heaven, knowing the kind of life He would have as an adult. Rejected, scorned, betrayed, abused and all the malice of the so-called religious teachers. Then the ultimate indignity of being scourged then nailed to a cross. All these names meant nothing to the people of the time and what a weight for Him to carry through His childhood knowing what He knew.

Not exactly the feel-good celebration we are moving toward at this time. People see the story of the birth of Jesus without thinking about what His future held. He probably was only able to cope with the thought of it by speaking to His Father constantly.

Perhaps we should be taking a leaf out of His book.

Prayer

Lord Jesus You came to earth willingly in order that we could be healed of the sin weighing our souls down. We only have to accept to be healed but some find that acceptance harder than the trials You went through. Please help us to accept all that You offer us, without taking it for granted. Thank You for putting us before Yourself. Amen.