“He was given dominion,
and glory, and a kingdom;
so that those of every people,
nation, and language
should serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that will not pass away,
and his kingdom is one
that will not be destroyed.”
“Then I heard something like the voice of a vast multitude, like the sound of cascading waters, and like the rumbling of loud thunder, saying, Hallelujah, because our Lord God, the Almighty, reigns!
7 Let us be glad, rejoice, and give him glory, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has prepared herself.
8 She was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure. For the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints.”
Monday, December 25
Christmas Day
Scripture Reading: Daniel 7:14; Rev 19:6-8
The Birth & Eternal Reign of the King
Merry Christmas...the day is here! The beginning of a kingdom, a kingdom that has no end. Christmas Day is the celebration of the birth of Jesus, but also the celebration of the beginning of his everlasting dominion. All throughout this advent season we have reflected on what the Bible has had to say about the baby born on that day so many years ago. The baby who grew up in Nazareth, who preached the good news of the Kingdom of God, who died on a cross as an atonement for sin, and who three days later rose again conquering death itself. The same man who rose into heaven, will return again to judge the living and the dead and gave us his followers the task of telling the world about it.
Many songs have been written about love. However, one of my favorites is Psalm 118. It reminds us that the greatest form of love is not a temporary love that ends with death, but an everlasting love that defines eternity. “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever!”
That is a heady thought. Anything that last forever is hard to grasp, let alone love. Yet here we are, 2000 years later, celebrating that love with millennia of believers. And we take todays next step in the anticipation of another moment to come. The moment that also will last for an eternity. When we will see our savior face to face. So, today let’s remember that this really is the first day of the rest of our lives. Our lives in Jesus. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
- How are you investing in the Christ’s eternal kingdom? Are you living for your own temporary domain or for the “everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away”?
- What is the most intense moment of love that you can remember? How does love change as it lasts for a longer and longer time?
- Have you ever wondered what it would sound like to hear all of heaven singing “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns” in Rev. 19? Listen to Handel's Messiah below to hear what he thought it would sound like.
Family Activity:
Reflect and consider, as Handel did when writing 'the Messiah', how the sound of that great multitude singing “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns” will sound like. How awesome would it be to be part of that choir!