Daily Devotion for December 13, 2005

Beginning and Ending

 

I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. Revelation 1:8

 

This passage is encouraging to me. It says that God is the beginning and the ending of everything. It says that despite all the war, poverty, and meanness in the world, God is the beginning and the endpoint and all will be made right. Meditating on this verse allows me to rest in the middle, without intimidation, in the sure knowledge of God’s love and perfection. This Advent season is a reminder to us that God’s love for humanity is so great that he chose to walk among us and set us free by releasing his resurrecting spirit upon the earth.

 

But there is much for us to do. There are still many of us who are hungry and thirsty, naked and cold, alone and afraid, sick and dying. Jesus, the Word made flesh, enters our lives in this Advent season to show us how to feed, clothe, comfort, and heal. His birth reminds us that we will find him right here, among the lonely and the suffering. Our part is to recognize Christ in the world—in everyone and everywhere. We participate with Christ in the redemption of the world when we recognize his presence in others.

 

It is so easy to get distracted from doing our part to usher in the Kingdom of God. We do this by our constant pointing out what they, over there, should be doing to right the wrongs in the world. Little is accomplished by this. But much is accomplished in the quiet recognition of the Christ in all of us, including our enemies. It may not seem very significant, but neither did the birth of a little child a long time ago.

 

Prayer
Jesus, help me to share your beginning with others so they can have an ending in you – eternity with you.  Amen

 

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