The difference a day makes...

'Twas the night before Christmas ...

We are all familiar with those words. They begin that beautiful Christmas poem that speaks of the magic of Christmas Eve.

But today I want you to think about the day before Christmas.

It was the day before Christmas, and the world was still without a Messiah. It was the day before Christmas, and the Hebrew people were looking and longing for the promise of God to be fulfilled. It was the day before Christmas and Mary and Joseph were coming to the end of a long, long journey. It was the day before Christmas, and for the shepherds it was just another day in the drudgery of sheep-keeping. It was the day before Christmas and the Magi saw nothing in the night sky the day before. It was the day before Christmas and Herod felt no uncertainty in the authority of his title, "King of the Jews". It was the day before Christmas and he who would be known as John the Baptizer was just a few months old baby: napping, eating, cooing, smiling at his mother's face. It was the day before Christmas and the priests of Israel went to the temple as they did every day and offered sacrifice after sacrifice after sacrifice, in an attempt to make up for their sins.

It was the day before Christmas.

Amazing how much the world changed in that next twenty-four hours.

Today is the day before Christmas.

I wonder; what difference do you need in the next twenty-four hours? Would you make your heart, and your home available to the Messiah of God? Would you open your life to Him?

What would you do if Jesus really showed up this Christmas? He can you know.

Today, would you pray the words of this ancient advent hymn?

Come Thou long expected Jesus

Born to set Thy people free

From our fears and sins release us

Let us find our rest in Thee

Israel's strength and consolation

Hope of all the earth Thou art

Dear desire of every nation

Joy of every longing heart

Born Thy people to deliver

Born a child and yet a King

Born to reign in us forever

Now Thy gracious kingdom bring

By Thine own eternal spirit

Rule in all our hearts alone

By Thine all sufficient merit

Raise us to Thy glorious throne

My prayer for you on this eve of Christmas is that the Long Expected Jesus would show up in your life in the next twenty-four hours. Would you pray the same for me?