Devotion - December 1

“But what have you done for us lately?”

Typically, we hear this comment in jest. But sometimes, there is a bite to its utterance. When present, even if not expressed, it gives birth to the horrible feeling that one could never do enough.

My heart ached this morning with the thought of God, peering into our hearts and lives only to discover an attitude of “What have you done for us lately?”

It started with the prophet Amos, who in the 3rd chapter chides his readers with “The Lord God has spoken, who can but prophesy?” How can those who have heard God speak keep silent? How can those who have beheld God’s grace turn inward upon themselves and say not a word?

I wonder if a terrible misunderstanding of 2 Peter 1:21 explains our silence? We read, “no prophesy ever came by human impulse, but those persons moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.” Do we make the outlandish claim, “If the Spirit were more active, then I would speak.”?

What more must God do? God, who set aside the comforts of heaven, comes to us at Bethlehem. God, who created all that is took on the form of those who are so that we might never doubt our worth. What more must God do? What more could God do?

My heart ached this morning when I wondered if we have allowed the events of Christmas to become a long-ago historical event. One which wowed those who were its first observers but a historical event we associate with the past. “Sure, that was wonderful. But what have you done for us lately?”

What has God done?!?! God has done it all! Who can but prophesy?