LEARNING DAILY

Ephesians 5:15-16, Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

Does anyone else have leftovers from the meals eaten during the holidays? We seem to eat several more meals from the leftovers – not just from holidays. Leftovers seldom seem to be as good as the first time around. I have been giving the idea of leftovers a lot of thought lately. For example, I looked back at some notes I had made and I had written: What if I spent as much time with God, as I did watching college football on Saturday? I often wonder how many people I send the blog to actually read it; I wonder if God feels that same way about His Word. He gives it to us to read, study, and meditate on – but, do we become too busy to read it, reading it only when we have spare time. Leftovers!

We just celebrated the birth of God’s Son, given to the world as a gift, to save people from their sins. People all over this country and world celebrated by singing some Christmas carols, giving gifts, and adoring the baby in a manger. Churches were full, at least the one we go to, with people offering their praise and worship. I imagine this has gone on for many years in the past. I wonder how many of these people who adored the baby in the manger fail to adore and worship the man Jesus; in fact, many will want nothing to do with Him. People sing, “O Come Let Us Adore Him, Christ the Lord” but do not surrender to His lordship. Too busy! Have their own agenda! Honor Him as a good person but will not honor Him as God! Put up all the decorations, even a nativity scene, but do not give Him time each day. Leftovers!

Take a moment to reflect on the birth of the Son of God. Gabriel announced to Mary she would conceive by the Holy Spirit the Son of God, who would save people from their sins and whose kingdom would never end. Joseph was told that the Son would be named “Immanuel, God with us.” The angels announced to the shepherds “a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” is born this day. The wisemen came to worship a king not a baby. Read a little further in Luke’s account and you will see two devout servants of God recognized the baby as the One who would bring salvation to His people. They did not see a baby, they saw Christ the Lord.

Believers, we have a wonderful privilege to not only adore the birth of the Son of God, but we also have the opportunity to worship the Son of God who grew up to walk this earth as a man, to teach us how God wants us to live and walk with Him as He desires. We have the opportunity to talk with Him through prayer and through His written Word. We are able to know that no matter how bad we mess up, His love for us never changes. May I encourage you to give Him your best each day and not your leftovers!