By all measures, the Christmas Season is nearly over for another year. It has been a treat.

Like many people, I love the Christmas Season, because we seem to be on our best behavior with family members and strangers alike. During this time of the year, hearts seem to glow, and we are willing to hope that others will join us in good cheer.

In talking about things that help us celebrate Christmas, I mentioned Nativity Sets this year in a sermon. One friend told me that she has a lion as one of the characters in her nativity. It reminds her of what the kingdom of God in its fullness will be like. The prophet Isaiah told us that when God’s kingdom breaks forth,

The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid,
the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them.
The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together;
and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp,
and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den.
They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain;
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

At Christmas, ever so briefly, it seems that we all try to model God’s kingdom for the world around us. Hopefully we can do that too in the New Year that has begun.

Prayer

God of the past, present, and future, once again we have sensed Your peaceful kingdom somewhere in the soft glow of Christmas lights. Help us to keep the joy and peace of this wonderful time of the year alive in our hearts each and every day. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.