Daily Reading
Daily Thought
There is lots of gift-giving at Christmas, but no one out-gives God, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16), and it doesn’t stop there. When Jesus enters our life, he gives us everything needed to follow him forever, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (1Peter 1:3).
That’s quite a Christmas.
There are, of course, three words that often come with a gift: “Some Assembly Required.” God gave us everything we need, explains Peter, now start putting it together–“For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love” (2Peter 1:5-7).
“Some Assembly Required” is part of the joy of Christmas as we build our faith and become the person God made us to be. Fortunately, it comes with instructions–God’s Word–”we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place” (2Peter 1:19).
And our Father always helps.
“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” ~Philippians 1:6
Daily Prayer
Father God, thank You for all You’ve done, and You did everything. You have given me all I need, salvation in Your Son, power to live a godly life through Your Spirit, and You promise to bring Your work in me to completion. Someday, I will live in perfect holiness with You forever. I look forward to that day.
In the meantime, I will follow wherever You lead. Whatever You ask, my answer is Yes. You have my heart, all of it, and my mind and soul and strength. I am Yours. And You are mine!
Amen
Daily Question
What are you working on in your life right now to make yourself more like Christ?