Devotional for December 24, 2021
Morning Ephesians 2:4-16
Noon Psalms 125
Evening Ephesians 2:17-22
Christmas is the most beautiful season of the year. Everywhere there is an atmosphere of joy, lights, colors, warm greetings, music, sweets, gifts, etc. Shops are crowded; everyone, or almost everyone, goes to buy gifts. The family is reunited, and many are reconciled this season. And I wonder do we have to wait for Christmas to give? No! We have it within us that we can give throughout the year; and we don't have to wait for Christmas, a birthday, or any other celebration to show our affection. The gift that is most appreciated by our fellow man is love. Who is not moved and appreciates when given a sincere show of love? Forgiveness, how much good it does to the recipient and even to the giver when we sincerely grant it. A sincere and frank smile costs nothing; the one who gives it is like a ray of light that penetrates the soul.
Don't wait for Christmas to give. Give today.
Written by Minerva G. Acanda,
Translated by Maria Elena Cardona
Morning Ephesians 2:4-16
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands
12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,
15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,
16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.
Noon Psalms 125
1 They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.
2 As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.
3 For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.
4 Do good, O LORD, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts.
5 As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel.
Evening Ephesians 2:17-22
17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Prayer Guide: [Cuba-Florida] and [El Salvador-San Salvador]
Annual Bible reading: The Book of Revelation 7 , 8 , 9
Comments