DAY 19

GOD’S MESSENGERS
But I will still be glad because of what the Lord has done. God my Savior fills me with joy.
-Habbakuk 8:18

PAUSE
The children of Israel were living in disobedience to God. They had forgotten what God had done for them. They had forgotten about the commandments He had given to keep them safe, so God sent them a message. The message was that the people had to leave their homes and live in a foreign land for 70 years. But God also told them that He would bring His people out of that foreign land. The problem was that God knew even when He brought His children out of their homeland, they would disobey again. Even the punishment was not enough to give His children the desire to do the right thing—they always wanted to do the wrong thing. It was like the people had hearts made of stone. Their hearts were hard towards doing right. He knew it would take a very special gift to soften His children’s hearts and give them a desire to obey Him. This gift was Jesus.
 
You see, even though the Children of Israel had hardened hearts and disobeyed, God still loved them and didn’t want to be separated from His children; He wanted to be close to them again. That’s why He promised to send Jesus. Jesus changes people’s hearts and gives them a desire to obey God so they never have to be disconnected from Him ever again. Just like God promised to restore His people to their homeland, so too, God promised the gift of Jesus for us. God’s messengers, the prophets, knew that God had made this promise, so they never stopped telling God’s people He loved them. That is why Habakkuk, one of God’s messengers, stood on his watchtower and waited for God. Even though the children of Israel were separated from God and it seemed it would never end, Habakkuk knew it would, because God always keeps His promises. So, just like we must wait for Christmas to get here, it will come just like it did so many years ago with the best gift ever: Jesus!  

DISCUSSION
What hope does it give you that God could not stop loving hard-hearted people? Do you understand why Jesus had to come? How is it that Jesus changes our hearts?

PRAY
God, I am so glad that you will never stop loving me. Thank you for promising Jesus who takes my hard heart and makes it soft so that I can have joy.
 
FAMILY ACTIVITY
Wrap an empty box to look like a Christmas present. Ask your children, “What do you need to do to receive this gift?” Help them come to the conclusion, “to take it.” Share how God’s gift is Jesus, and the way they receive Him is just like the gift. It is by faith. They don’t have to earn it.