Scripture: Joel 2:12-27

How many years have you lost to the locust? Have self-indulgence, sensuality, sinful motives and personal ambition robbed you of joy, peace and fruitfulness? Perhaps you feel discouraged when you think of all the time that seems to have been wasted, never to be reclaimed.

If so, consider the words of the Lord through the prophet Joel. God told the people of Israel that even though they had been disobedient to Him and had been disciplined through a plague of locusts, there was still hope. The Lord said that He is “gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness” (Joel 2:13). The He promised, “I will restore to you the years that the swarming locusts has eaten” (v. 25)

When we confess our sin to the Lord, He is quick to forgive our past and fill our future with hope. He can bring good out of our wasted years. He does that by teaching us humility through our failure, and by helping us understand the weaknesses we have in common with others.

Although our previous years may have been blighted by sin, God is eager to restore us and give as much fruit from our labor. What we have learned from the past can now result in productive service for Him and heartfelt praise to Him. The year aheads is filled with hope — from Our Daily Bread

No matter how dark your past,
With Christ your future is bright.

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Although millions celebrate Jesus’ birthday, few seem to be aware of its real significance.

We recognize that His birth was unusual because He was born of a virgin. His life was unique, too, for He was the only one who lived without sinning. His death was also unusual. Jesus was not a martyr. He was not the victim of unfortunate circumstances,
dying for a worthy cause. Nor did He lay down His life just to set a good example. There’s much more to it than that. The Lord Jesus came into this world to be our Savior!

Jesus Himself said that He came “to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). Who are the lost? The Bible tells us that “all have sinned” and that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 3:23; 6:23). In order to save the world, Jesus had to die for it. He came and lived the perfect life and then died the death we should have died. The true meaning of Christmas is that Jesus was born to die. Because He was crucified and then rose from the dead, forgiveness of sin and assurance of heaven is now offered to all who believe (John 1:12).

Have you accepted God’s gift of salvation? If not, do so today, and this will be your most meaningful Christmas ever. – from Our Daily Bread

Unless we see the cross overshadowing the cradle. We have lost the real meaning of Christ’s birth.

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