Devotional Guide
For the week of November 23, 2003
A TIME FOR THANKSGIVING
Giving and getting
To Read: Zechariah 7-9
To Know:
"And he said to them, 'Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man'
s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.'" (Lk.12: 15)
Today, America shops. This day we hold our national shopping spree.
Yesterday was the day for thanks giving; Christmas is the day for gift
giving. The spending spree that the country goes on today can, if we are not
careful, conceal the real meaning of Christmas. Merchandising and
moneymaking can too easily drive from our hearts the real reason for the
Christmas season. Tom Lehrer perceived the danger Christmas posed to
Americans in the following parody, "God rest ye merry merchants may ye make
the Yuletide pay." Also Lehrer wrote, "Angels we have heard on high, tell us
to go out and buy."
When we are young we anticipate the gifts that we will receive on Christmas
morning. When we are older we revel in the gifts that we will give. In
either case, we do not want to empty the real meaning of Christmas by
putting all the focus on the things that money can buy.
To Answer:
Do I search out the grace of God in order that the joy that comes by being
loved by our maker overwhelms me?
Have you realized the wisdom of God in commanding us to fill our hearts and
minds with thanks?
Is Christmas a time for giving or getting?
Saturday: Zechariah 10-12
Sunday: Zechariah 13,14
11283$-11283
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