Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - WordAction - The Foundry Publishing House of Kansas City, Missouri, United States - The Global Church of the Nazarene for Monday, 25 December 2017 "Bowing Down" by Albert Hung - Isaiah 2:1-11

Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - WordAction - The Foundry Publishing House of Kansas City, Missouri, United States - The Global Church of the Nazarene for Monday, 25 December 2017 "Bowing Down" by Albert Hung - Isaiah 2:1-11
Isaiah 2:1 This is the word that Yesha‘yahu the son of Amotz saw concerning Y’hudah and Yerushalayim:
2 In the acharit-hayamim
the mountain of Adonai’s house
will be established as the most important mountain.
It will be regarded more highly than the other hills,
and all the Goyim will stream there.
3 Many peoples will go and say,
“Come, let’s go up to the mountain of Adonai,
to the house of the God of Ya‘akov!
He will teach us about his ways,
and we will walk in his paths.”
For out of Tziyon will go forth Torah,
the word of Adonai from Yerushalayim.
4 He will judge between the nations
and arbitrate for many peoples.
Then they will hammer their swords into plow-blades
and their spears into pruning-knives;
nations will not raise swords at each other,
and they will no longer learn war.
5 Descendants of Ya‘akov, come!
Let’s live in the light of Adonai!
6 For you have abandoned your people
the house of Ya‘akov.
Now they are filled from the east,
full of sorcerers, like the P’lishtim;
even the children of foreigners
are enough for them!
7 Their land is full of silver and gold;
They have no end of treasures.
Their land is full of horses;
They have no end of chariots.
8 Their land is full of idols;
everyone worships the work of his hands,
what his own fingers have made.
9 A person bows down, a man lowers himself —
don’t forgive them!
10 Come into the rock, hide in the dust
to escape the terror of Adonai
and the glory of his majesty.
11 The proud looks of man will be humiliated;
the arrogance of men will be bowed down;
and when that day comes,
Adonai alone will be exalted.
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Merry Christmas! Today, we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. He came into the world to announce the coming kingdom of God, to seek and save the lost, and to establish His church.
Someday soon, Christ will come again. The prophet Isaiah warns us that in the last days, the people of God will be materially rich, but spiritually destitute. We will boast in our wealth and accomplishments. All around us, we see evidence that we are living in such a time. Our tables are laden with choice foods. We spend lavishly on things we do not need. Prosperity and pleasure have become our gods. And yet, we are dissatisfied. We ache for things that only God can provide.
Have we made room for Jesus this Christmas? Are we materially rich, but spiritually poor? As we reflect on the past year, do we take pleasure in what we have done, or what God has done? What gifts have we received from the Lord that money cannot buy?
When Christ was born, wise men and shepherds alike humbled themselves in the presence of the Lord. May we follow their example by exalting Christ, and Christ alone, this day.
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Hymn for Today: "O Holy Night" by John S. Dwight
1. O holy night! the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of the dear Savior's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope--the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!
Fall on your knees!
O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!
2. Led by the light! of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here came the Wise Men from Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials born to be our Friend.
He knows our need - to our weakness is no stranger.
Behold your King, before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King, before Him lowly bend! 
3. Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother,
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we;
Let all within us praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! O praise His name forever!
His power and glory evermore proclaim!
His power and glory evermore proclaim!

His power and glory evermore proclaim!
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Thought for Today: This very day, in the town of David, there was born for you a Deliverer who is the Messiah, the Lord.(Luke 2:11)
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Please pray: For the development of Christian leaders in India
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