Daily Devotion – May 4, 2020 – Roy Hammerling
Luke 2:1-14 (15-20)
“. . . the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth.”
The Time of Deliverance
The time came for her to be delivered of her nine-month burden, but in a smelly manger? To add insult to injury, there was no other room at the inn, so they went to the animal stalls. Then shepherds came from God knows where. Finally, mother and father fall to sleep, and then in the dark night, a piercing baby’s cry. Peace? In the distance, more babies cry, Herod’s war on the child had begun. Herod did not want peace to take root, not in his kingdom. As soon as God gives peace, rulers want to snuff it out. Politicians play politics with tragedies, risking lives, all to gain points so they can win elections and impose their laws, which all too often benefit the rich and leave the poor empty handed. The dimly burning wick of hope flickers and nearly goes out. Still the candle burns, faintly but faithfully. In the darkness the people see a great light, and the darkness cannot overcome it, but that doesn’t mean the darkness won’t try, even on that silent night when the babe lay in a manger. The light still sputters, but for Mary, the shepherds, and us there is deliverance. Sadly, Herod is still out there, but as we remember that night amid all the world’s anguish, the light still glimmers in spite of the cold breezes coming in off the horizon.
Prayer: Deliver our hearts, O Lord, from the snuffing power of evil, so we may burn with the light of the Christ child to illumine the world with his love. Amen
Prayer Concerns: For all those who are alone on this night in their own or imposed darkness.
