Matthew 7:7-8 – Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. (NIV)

Recently, at our Thursday evening prayer meeting, we were praying for the people of our community and the surrounding area. Pastor Mark has been introducing himself to many of them, but he wonders whether they see their need for a Saviour. Bill then quoted a passage from Job, which spoke to us — as God's Word always does! — and which can give us all some food for thought, now and each day.

In Job 22:17-18a, Eliphaz, while referring to evil men, said to Job, "They said to God, 'Leave us alone! What can the Almighty do to us?' Yet it was he who filled their houses with good things." (NIV) I clearly remember the years when I was one of those to whom Eliphaz was referring! And so it is today where you and I live: so many people seek good feelings from Christmas decorations, reindeer, Santa, and all, but feel no need for a newborn King to be the centre of their lives. Not yet.

It was just like that at the first Christmas. Over two thousand years ago, several wise men arrived at Jerusalem after a long and arduous journey. They were seeking the newborn King of the Jews. But the priests and scribes, whom they consulted about His birthplace in Bethlehem, didn't bother to check out the good news about the long-expected Messiah. They felt no need.

We long to see revival in our society — it sure needs it! But let us ask God to start that revival right here in our own hearts, for, as Jesus said, "The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." (Matthew 26:41b NIV)

As Bill read further, Scripture continued to speak to us:

Job 22:21-26 – Submit to God and be at peace with him. … Accept instruction from his mouth and lay up his words in your heart. If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored: If you remove wickedness far from your tent and assign your nuggets to the dust, your gold of Ophir to the rocks in the ravines, then the Almighty will be your gold, the choicest silver for you. Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty and will lift up your face to God. (NIV)

Let us seek to draw close to God and to be light and salt to our neighbours. The Way hasn't changed since Job's time: submit, be humble in heart, accept instruction, feast on His Word, repent, and make our priorities right, so that God becomes our gold. His Spirit will gift us with delight, peace, and joy. As we lift up our faces to God, His light will shine through us.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, help us to seek anew the newborn King, Jesus, this Christmas, that we may know Your blessings, and by Your power and grace, live as beacons of light in this dark world. Amen.

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About the author:

Don Lipsett <dllipsett@shaw.ca>
100 Mile House, British Columbia, Canada
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