Good morning. It is far too early to be sharing thoughts about Christmas, right? It isn’t even Thanksgiving yet, right? We haven’t even been amazed by the black Friday sales yet, right? We haven’t had our Live Nativity celebration, or our Christmas program, or sent out cards, right?
True. All of that is true. But I am going to share with you a passage of scripture that speaks of God sending to mankind His King of Kings, His Messiah. It is a Christmas passage that rarely gets read. It is a promise from God that goes unconsidered and not celebrated. It is God’s Word to us, expressing through prophecy the coming of His Christ child. The passage is Isaiah 60:1-5. It may be too early for Christmas passages, but please find joy in these verses.
Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness shall cover all people;
but the Lord will arise upon you,
and his glory will be seen upon you.
3 And nations shall come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your rising.
4 Lift up your eyes all around, and see;
they all gather together, they come to you;
your sons shall return from afar,
and your infant daughters shall be carried on your hip.
5 Then you shall see and be radiant;
your heart shall thrill and exult,
because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you,
the wealth of the nations shall come to you.
In the midst of darkness, He comes to you. The Lord Himself shall arise for you like the dawn of a new age. The glory of the Lord of Hosts will be yours to enjoy. The promise is for everyone, people of every nation. Families will be made whole. The radiance of the Lord will thrill you. The abundance of God’s creation is His, and through His coming it shall bless His people as well.
Vern