Acts 7:58 Then they dragged Stephen out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.
Through an accident of the calendar and how these things are set, December 26 is the feast day of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr who was stoned in Jerusalem shortly after the first Easter for preaching that Jesus was truly God's son. So today, as the house is in a state of Christmas hangover - wrapping paper still strewn around, kids now crying over the toys that have already broken, we recognize that we can't stay at the beautiful and cute little manger long.
The real life for which Jesus came into the world is happening outside the manger. The real life for which God sent the light to overcome darkness is happening away from Bethlehem. And sometimes it's uncomfortable and not pretty. Sometimes it's downright ugly. Sometimes it hurts. Sometimes it kills. But even in the face of death we remember that this is exactly why Christmas happened. Christmas happened so Stephen could be reunited with God and live forever. Christmas happened so you can live forever. Thanks be to God!
In Christ,
Pastor Seth
Sunday December 29 we will have one service of Lessons and Carols at 10 am. Visit http://www.allsaintspalatine.org for full information and respond to this email to be unsubscribed from the devotionals mailing list. Blessed Christmas!
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