Monday Devotional: December 18, 2023

Bible Reading: Isaiah 9:2-7 (NRSVUE)

² The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined. ³ You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. ⁴ For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. ⁵ For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. ⁶ For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ⁷ His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

It was Christmas Eve in a ward of a large hospital. My sister, Mary Ann, was a nurse and always volunteered to work on this night. She was single and wanted other nurses on her ward to be with their families. It was quiet on the ward. The only sounds were the moans and groans of some of the patients.

Mary Ann had bonded with a little boy who was dying of leukemia. Near midnight, Mary Ann heard someone singing, “Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way.” She soon discovered it was the little boy. His weakened voice drifted down the halls of the ward until many of the sick patients began singing “Jingle Bells.” Their singing transformed a place of suffering into a place of joy.

The prophet Isaiah had foretold that the Messiah would come as a child. It would be a child who would deliver the people from bondage and suffering. In a real way, that little boy became a Christ-gift to those sick people. His contagious joy rekindled a spirit of joy and hope when all seemed lost.

The story from the hospital ward was reminiscent of other songs at midnight. It was midnight when Paul and Silas sang hymns from that Philippian jail as the prisoners listened to them (see Acts 16:25). The little boy died in a few weeks, but his song was a strong reminder that the Christ child would suffer and die on the cross, as he took all the pain of the world and turned it into a glorious song of salvation.

Prayer

Teach us, O God, to be able to sing in the worst of circumstances and to trust your care when life is against us. Amen.

By Richard L. Morgan, The Upper Room Disciplines 2023, page 421.

Join us for ADVENT BIBLE STUDY!

“Heaven and Earth: Advent and the Incarnation” by Will Willimon

Session 4: Rejoice
Bible Readings: Luke 1:26-55

Meeting Time:
Zoom Session every Monday at 6:00 pm. (Nov. 27 to Dec. 18)
In-person Session every Wednesday at 1:00 pm. (Nov. 29 to Dec. 20)
Conference Room, McGhee Building