The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned. Isaiah 9:2
In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. And on the sixth day, He created Man, birthed by the very breath of God. He placed the man and woman in an ideal garden as befitted one made in His image. The paradise of Eden, however, was not in the beauty of the creation but in the presence of God. In the cool of the evening, we read in Genesis, God walked in the garden with Adam and Eve.
When sin entered the garden, the relationship between man and his Creator changed. God’s separation from mankind was exemplified later by the curtain in the temple which divided the Holy place from the Holy of Holies. God dwelt among His people yet access to Him was controlled by the high priest.
But God promised a reuniting with His people, a second chance. Throughout scripture, prophesies pointed toward One who would end the separation and bring paradise back to mankind. But generations passed and the promised messiah did not come. Then one night, in a stable in Bethlehem, a child was born who would change the course of the world. The wait was over. God had kept His promise. The shepherds on a hillside outside the town were the first to hear the Hallelujah of praise. “Glory to God,” the angels sang, “for God has brought peace to the earth.” Not the peace of the world which is temporary and dependent upon the will of man but lasting peace established by the presence of the Living God. No longer did man seek God through the administration of a priest but would understand the indwelling of the Spirit of the Most High. The veil had been torn. God had come to us.
We live in times of hardship and fear, in days of anxiety and uncertainty. The uncommon has become the norm. Answers don’t seem to be forthcoming and we wonder where we are heading. Like those of old, we seek the Messiah - to give us strength, to give us wisdom, to give us hope.
Hope is a fragile commodity. It can be inflated by misdirected confidence and dashed by
promises unfulfilled. It must be founded on truth and anchored in assurance. We find that assurance in the words of the prophet. “Unto us a child is born. Unto us a Son is given.” We, who are walking in darkness, have seen a great light. He is Emanuel – God with us. Because of Jesus, we no longer have to wander like sheep lost on the hillside but can walk through the valley of the shadow of death and fear no evil. We know that God has given us a living hope in His Son, and that we are now a part of the heavenly family. This is what the birth of Jesus heralded: that knowing Him, believing in Him, belonging to Him, we would be filled with God Himself. It is our hope, the confidence that gives us the power to face each day. We know that nothing can separate us from the love of God through Christ Jesus. This then is the gift of Christmas. Eden is ours for we live in the presence of God.
Craft & Recipe
Flower Art
Everything you need is right outside your door!
Oreo Truffles
Use milk, or dark, chocolate to represent the darkness and/or white chocolate and golden Oreos to represent the light.
It is our prayer that you will share this devotional, craft and recipe with your loved ones or someone that needs to know the hope that is found in Jesus. Get creative and take pictures of your completed flower art and truffles. Both are kid-friendly and a great opportunity to discuss the gift of hope this Christmas. Share your pictures in the comments below, post to the Crossfire facebook page or email them to us @ CrossfireWomensMinistry@gmail.com.
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