Silver and Gold

Today is the second day in our 48th week, reading the Bible through in a year.  Our scriptures today are:  Zechariah 12-14; 2 John; Psalm 94.

In the great Christmas classic video "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," Burl Ives' snowman character sings about the silver and gold that we see so prominently displayed this time of year.

There is a second verse, that didn't make it into the video.  It goes like this:

Silver, silver and gold

Silver, silver and gold

Wise men brought gifts to the manger I'm told

Mary was humble to see

Shepherds and kings there on bended knees

It's silver and gold, silver and gold

Feeling the world with their lives

Silver and gold how they shimmer on ev'ry Christmas night

It seems this time of year, we see silver and gold everywhere we go.  It's so easy to get distracted by all the tinsel and wrappings, and lose sight of God in all the festivities.  It's easy to get caught up in the silver and gold that we spend in order to "Give someone a nice Christmas" (What???) that we forget what Christmas is really about.  It's about God treasuring you so much that He gave His Son to be your Savior.

You are God's treasure--the silver and gold that was of such precious value to the Lord that He bought you with His blood.  Zechariah 13:9b points out that God wants to purify you, His treasure.  

I will refine them like silver

    and test them like gold.

They will call on my name

    and I will answer them;

I will say, ‘They are my people,’

    and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’”

This Christmas, as you see all the silver and gold, let it remind you how much you're worth to God.  Let it remind you what a treasure is our matchless Lord, who gave up the riches of Heaven so that He could redeem you with His love.