December 24 - Leading up to Christmas
“She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth.” - Revelation 12:2
Scripture reading: Revelation 12:1-17
The woman, who is the church, is crying out in pain. She is ready to give birth to the long promised male child, the seed of Abraham, in Whom all the nations of the world would be blessed since through Him the curse of sin would be removed, and people would be restored to favour with God.
All the history of the Old Testament is displayed in those few words. All we read in the Old Testament is concerning the coming of this child. People lived in anticipation of the day when the promised Christ would come. All the sacrifices pointed forward to Him. As Paul says concerning Israel, “To them belong ‘the sonship, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship and the promises; to them belong the patriarchs, and of their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ” (Romans 9:4-5).
Israel, then the Old Testament church, brings forth the Christ, yet, not of her own, but only through the Holy Spirit. The whole purpose of Israel, who could not save herself, was to bring forth the Christ, Who would save believers, not only of Israel, but also of every nation. God maintained all His promises to Abraham and David, despite Israel’s wickedness, in order that Jesus could come into the world, and through Jesus, salvation to the world. The whole history of the Old Testament is properly told in verse 2: pangs of birth, anguish of delivery.
Suggestions for prayer
Thank God for governing all history so that Jesus would be born, the seed of Abraham, through Whom believers of all nations would be blessed. Pray that sinners the world over, hear the good news that Jesus has been born, the One and only Redeemer.
Rev. Calvin J. Tuininga has served in four churches and he retired in September 2019. He and his wife now reside in Washington, North Carolina. He presently serves as a relationship Counsellor with Coastal Pregnancy Centre, as the chairman of the Synodical appeals committee of the URCNA, and also enjoys helping in various churches when possible. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com. ...
