God is a healer. And his specialty is broken hearts.
That’s especially good to remember at this time of year. When we’re children, Christmas is filled with visions of presents being opened, of family gathered around, of food and wonderful surprises. Most of us have at least a few memories of magical Christmas experiences.
But as adults, the memories of heartbreak and loss have piled up. And especially if the wounds are still fresh, Christmas can be a very difficult time, made worse by the contrasting memories of great expectations for Christmas that were built in our childhood.
If this is the first Christmas following a great loss — lost love, lost job, lost wealth, lost health, lost hope — then it’s hard to imagine a more difficult time than this.
We need someone to sooth and comfort us in our deep pain. We have to have compassion and empathy — someone with a heart of love who will bind up and bandage the open wounds.
And isn’t this why Jesus came on the first Christmas?
He sees the pain that sin and brokenness have caused the people he created. And his own heart breaks. He cannot stand it. He won’t live with it.
He must do everything he can to heal our brokenness, and relieve the pain.
So he, true God, becomes a man like us. He comes to experience our pain himself. He comes willing to have his own heart (and body) broken because of our sins. He comes to bleed and die on a cross — to be mortally wounded — so that our wounds can be healed.
Christmas. It’s meaning is amazing. The compassion behind it is astounding.
May Jesus heal your heart this Christmas. And bind up all your wounds.
Because that’s what he does.
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3, NIV).
Lord, my heart is broken over my sins. I am hurting over many things in my life. If I’m “real” with you, the past year has brought hurts and pain from people, events, and experiences I’ve endured. Thank you for being my Savior, and my Healer, Jesus. Bind up my wounds and heal my broken heart. Restore to me the joy and the peace that your salvation brings at Christmas time.
Our Bible reading for Thursday, December 24, is Nehemiah 1:1 – 2:20, Revelation 16:1-21 and Psalm 147:1-11.
P.S. If you’re in Phoenix, AZ this Christmas, join us at CrossWalk Church for our Christmas Rockin’ Eve worship service and concert. Services are being held today (December 24) at 3, 5, and 7 pm. CrossWalk Church worships at Cesar Chavez High School, 3921 W. Baseline Road, 85339.
Header image based on "Time heals all wounds..." by Neal Fowler, CC By 2.0
pastorjeffgunn 
Our Bible reading for Thursday, December 24, is Nehemiah 1:1 – 2:20, Revelation 16:1-21 and Psalm 147:1-11.
Today I’m thankful for… A nice drive with my little girl, finding what I’m looking for, listening to Gods word in unexpected places.
“Then I said: “ Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.”
Nehemiah 1:5-7 NIV
Heavenly Father, God of all things created by your mighty hands thank you for all you have done. Your word is true and you have kept your promises for your children
throughout the ages. Thank you for always listening when we talk Lord, it brings me great peace. I confess that I have sinned against Lord, I have failed you in many ways. My thoughts and actions bring me great shame and I repent with an open heart. I cry out to my Savior Jesus, he is my hope and my redeemer. He is what I need to fulfill the plans you have made for me. What amazing joy that brings.
Paul Montenieri
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