Rev. Ray and Pat Amos
Psalm 121:8
“The LORD will guard our going out and our coming in from this time forth and forever.”
“THE LORD WILL NEVER LEAVE US”
It is the day after Christmas; now what do we do? Advent was so busy, Christmas preparations required a lot of time and energy; and then it comes and goes so quickly. “We will keep it simple next year,” we say. But then we say that every year. It is the day after Christmas and tired trees are already waiting for a pickup by the curb, and Valentines are on the store shelf.
What did Joseph think as he listened to the ox move around in the breaking light, and as he watched Mary sleep with a little bundle in her arms? Did he silently wonder as he prayed, “What now Lord? Where do we go from here?” Perhaps that is the right question for all of us on this day after Christmas: “Where do we go from here?”
We all know that a new Mother needs her time with the Baby; and guest shouldn’t stay too long. We must leave the baby at some point, and get back to life’s busy days. Our Christianity can’t remain in a manger; there will be a cross just a few short miles down the road, and it is already time to get started that way.
We must leave the baby, but not the Savior. No one ever comes into His presence and then returns to their home the same way. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God, the Wise Men went home a different way; but then, don’t we all?
Many have already left their Christmas pilgrimage to go back to the place they call home. A few will linger for a while; but return we must. “The LORD will guard our going out and our coming in from this time forth and forever.” Psalm 121:8
It is strangely wonderful: When we went to Bethlehem in our heart and worship we were not the visitors at all. It was He, God’s Son, who had come to us. We have all been visited by Emmanuel. God is with us, and God will never leave us.
Grace and Peace, Rev Ray
Link to YouTube Video – The Lord’s My Shepherd
