Read today's meditation from The Upper Room daily devotional with millions of people around the world this Christmas.
The Upper Room Daily Devotional in Nashville, Tennessee, United States - Monday, December 25, 2017, Christmas Day by Linawati Santoso (East Java, Indonesia) - Matthew 5:43-48
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. (Matthew 5:9 (NIV))
Just before our church’s Christmas celebration, my phone rang. I didn’t recognize the number, so I did not answer the phone. I only sent a text message to the caller, asking who the person was.
A few minutes later, I received a text message back from the caller — who turned out to be one of my colleagues. Judging by her insulting language, I concluded that she was angry with me. Sadness, anger, and disappointment filled my heart. I wanted to send back an angry reply, but then I remembered that it was Christmas night.
Christmas is about Christ, and Christ is about love. He came to earth bringing peace and love to all people, both the pleasant and the unpleasant, the good and the evil. I asked myself, How can I be angry and quarrel with someone on Christmas night?
When I prayed for the strength to be patient and to forgive my colleague as Jesus has forgiven me, God turned my sadness, anger, and disappointment into peace and joy. On that day, I realized the true meaning of Christmas. It’s not about having an excuse for a party; it’s about proclaiming the kindness and love of Jesus Christ.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. (Matthew 5:9 (NIV))
Just before our church’s Christmas celebration, my phone rang. I didn’t recognize the number, so I did not answer the phone. I only sent a text message to the caller, asking who the person was.
A few minutes later, I received a text message back from the caller — who turned out to be one of my colleagues. Judging by her insulting language, I concluded that she was angry with me. Sadness, anger, and disappointment filled my heart. I wanted to send back an angry reply, but then I remembered that it was Christmas night.
Christmas is about Christ, and Christ is about love. He came to earth bringing peace and love to all people, both the pleasant and the unpleasant, the good and the evil. I asked myself, How can I be angry and quarrel with someone on Christmas night?
When I prayed for the strength to be patient and to forgive my colleague as Jesus has forgiven me, God turned my sadness, anger, and disappointment into peace and joy. On that day, I realized the true meaning of Christmas. It’s not about having an excuse for a party; it’s about proclaiming the kindness and love of Jesus Christ.
TODAY'S PRAYER:
Dear Lord, give us patience when we are insulted, and help us to forgive everyone who hurts us. Help us to bring the true meaning of Christmas to everyone around us. Amen.
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Matthew 5:43 “You have heard that our fathers were told, ‘Love your neighbor[Matthew 5:43 Leviticus 19:18] — and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 Then you will become children of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun shine on good and bad people alike, and he sends rain to the righteous and the unrighteous alike. 46 What reward do you get if you love only those who love you? Why, even tax-collectors do that! 47 And if you are friendly only to your friends, are you doing anything out of the ordinary? Even the Goyim do that! 48 Therefore, be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
With whom will I share the love, peace, and joy of Christmas this year?
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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
With whom will I share the love, peace, and joy of Christmas this year?
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PRAYER FOCUS:
For peace
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For peace
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READ MORE:
Giving Thanks for Christmas Day
"Giving Thanks for Christmas Day" BY LINAWATI SANTOSO (EAST JAVA, INDONESIA)
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.” (Luke 2:14, NIV)
Today’s devotional was my experience in 2015. On that night, I had two choices: to be angry or to forgive. In my mind, I thought it was better for me to type and send back an angry reply: “No, I am not the one like you say!” But when I looked at the Christmas decorations, the smiles of my friends, and remembered Christ, my heart said: “Keep calm! Don’t be angry! Today is the best time for you to show that you are Christian!”
Because I chose to forgive, now I still have good relationship with my colleague. I thank God for Christmas. On Christmas day, God sent Christ, his only beloved Son, not only to redeem me from sin, but also to help me to live peacefully with others. On Christmas day, our situations may not be peaceful. But in Christ, we can always find peace in our hearts, whatever our situation may be!
Have a peaceful Christmas and God bless us.
---Giving Thanks for Christmas Day
"Giving Thanks for Christmas Day" BY LINAWATI SANTOSO (EAST JAVA, INDONESIA)
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.” (Luke 2:14, NIV)
Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in Heavenly peace
Sleep in Heavenly peace
How peaceful we feel as we sing this song above! Since my childhood, Christmas has always been a moment of peace and joy. Even though my family did not have anything to celebrate Christmas — no Christmas tree, no Christmas decorations or gifts, no special food — we were always happy to welcome Christmas day. Today’s devotional was my experience in 2015. On that night, I had two choices: to be angry or to forgive. In my mind, I thought it was better for me to type and send back an angry reply: “No, I am not the one like you say!” But when I looked at the Christmas decorations, the smiles of my friends, and remembered Christ, my heart said: “Keep calm! Don’t be angry! Today is the best time for you to show that you are Christian!”
Because I chose to forgive, now I still have good relationship with my colleague. I thank God for Christmas. On Christmas day, God sent Christ, his only beloved Son, not only to redeem me from sin, but also to help me to live peacefully with others. On Christmas day, our situations may not be peaceful. But in Christ, we can always find peace in our hearts, whatever our situation may be!
Have a peaceful Christmas and God bless us.
Read the entire Christmas story from the Gospel of Luke here.
Luke 2:1 Around this time, Emperor Augustus issued an order for a census to be taken throughout the Empire. 2 This registration, the first of its kind, took place when Quirinius was governing in Syria. 3 Everyone went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 So Yosef, because he was a descendant of David, went up from the town of Natzeret in the Galil to the town of David, called Beit-Lechem, in Y’hudah, 5 to be registered, with Miryam, to whom he was engaged, and who was pregnant. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to give birth; 7 and she gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him in cloth and laid him down in a feeding trough, because there was no space for them in the living-quarters.
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Luke 2:1 Around this time, Emperor Augustus issued an order for a census to be taken throughout the Empire. 2 This registration, the first of its kind, took place when Quirinius was governing in Syria. 3 Everyone went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 So Yosef, because he was a descendant of David, went up from the town of Natzeret in the Galil to the town of David, called Beit-Lechem, in Y’hudah, 5 to be registered, with Miryam, to whom he was engaged, and who was pregnant. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to give birth; 7 and she gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him in cloth and laid him down in a feeding trough, because there was no space for them in the living-quarters.
8 In the countryside nearby were some shepherds spending the night in the fields, guarding their flocks, 9 when an angel of Adonai appeared to them, and the Sh’khinah of Adonai shone around them. They were terrified; 10 but the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, because I am here announcing to you Good News that will bring great joy to all the people. 11 This very day, in the town of David, there was born for you a Deliverer who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 Here is how you will know: you will find a baby wrapped in cloth and lying in a feeding trough.” 13 Suddenly, along with the angel was a vast army from heaven praising God:
14 “In the highest heaven, glory to God!
And on earth, peace among people of good will!”
15 No sooner had the angels left them and gone back into heaven than the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go over to Beit-Lechem and see this thing that has happened, that Adonai has told us about.” 16 Hurrying off, they came and found Miryam and Yosef, and the baby lying in the feeding trough. 17 Upon seeing this, they made known what they had been told about this child; 18 and all who heard were amazed by what the shepherds said to them. 19 Miryam treasured all these things and kept mulling them over in her heart. 20 Meanwhile, the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen; it had been just as they had been told.
21 On the eighth day, when it was time for his b’rit-milah, he was given the name Yeshua, which is what the angel had called him before his conception.
22 When the time came for their purification according to the Torah of Moshe, they took him up to Yerushalayim to present him to Adonai 23 (as it is written in the Torah of Adonai, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to Adonai”[Luke 2:23 Exodus 13:2, 12, 15]) 24 and also to offer a sacrifice of a pair of doves or two young pigeons,[Luke 2:24 Leviticus 12:8] as required by the Torah of Adonai.
25 There was in Yerushalayim a man named Shim‘on. This man was a tzaddik, he was devout, he waited eagerly for God to comfort Isra’el, and the Ruach HaKodesh was upon him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Ruach HaKodesh that he would not die before he had seen the Messiah of Adonai. 27 Prompted by the Spirit, he went into the Temple courts; and when the parents brought in the child Yeshua to do for him what the Torah required, 28 Shim‘on took him in his arms, made a b’rakhah to God, and said,
29 “Now, Adonai, according to your word,
your servant is at peace as you let him go;
30 for I have seen with my own eyes your yeshu‘ah,
31 which you prepared in the presence of all peoples —
32 a light that will bring revelation to the Goyim
and glory to your people Isra’el.”
33 Yeshua’s father and mother were marvelling at the things Shim‘on was saying about him. 34 Shim‘on blessed them and said to the child’s mother, Miryam,
“This child will cause many in Isra’el to fall and to rise,
he will become a sign whom people will speak against;
35 moreover, a sword will pierce your own heart too.
All this will happen in order to reveal many people’s inmost thoughts.”
36 There was also a prophet named Hannah Bat-P’nu’el, of the tribe of Asher. She was a very old woman — she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage 37 and had remained a widow ever since; now she was eighty-four. She never left the Temple grounds but worshipped there night and day, fasting and praying. 38 She came by at that moment and began thanking God and speaking about the child to everyone who was waiting for Yerushalayim to be liberated.
39 When Yosef and Miryam had finished doing everything required by the Torah of Adonai, they returned to the Galil, to their town Natzeret.
40 The child grew and became strong and filled with wisdom — God’s favor was upon him.
41 Every year Yeshua’s parents went to Yerushalayim for the festival of Pesach. 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up for the festival, as custom required. 43 But after the festival was over, when his parents returned, Yeshua remained in Yerushalayim. They didn’t realize this; 44 supposing that he was somewhere in the caravan, they spent a whole day on the road before they began searching for him among their relatives and friends. 45 Failing to find him, they returned to Yerushalayim to look for him. 46 On the third day they found him — he was sitting in the Temple court among the rabbis, not only listening to them but questioning what they said; 47 and everyone who heard him was astonished at his insight and his responses. 48 When his parents saw him, they were shocked; and his mother said to him, “Son! Why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been terribly worried looking for you!” 49 He said to them, “Why did you have to look for me? Didn’t you know that I had to be concerning myself with my Father’s affairs?” 50 But they didn’t understand what he meant.
51 So he went with them to Natzeret and was obedient to them. But his mother stored up all these things in her heart.
52 And Yeshua grew both in wisdom and in stature, gaining favor both with other people and with God.
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Upper Room Ministries is a worldwide prayer movement devoted to supporting the spiritual life of millions of Christians seeking to know and experience God more fully. Best known for its daily devotional guide, The Upper Room is charged to be interdenominational and international in scope. It is a subsidiary of Discipleship Ministries, a general agency of the United Methodist Church, and is headquartered at 1908 Grand Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee, 37212, United States.
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