In Touch Devotional 23 December 2023 Message by Dr. Charles Stanley
Read In Touch Devotional 23 December 2023 – Saturday Daily Devotional Message Written by Dr. Charles Stanley.
TOPIC: Desire of Nations
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 60:2-3
MESSAGE: When nations, communities, and even families are at odds, the list of things that separate us seems long. The divide widens further as more differences are shoved into the gap, until eventually the vision of Revelation—a multitude from every corner of the world worshipping in unity (Revelation 7:9)—becomes impossible to imagine.
But Jesus, our “God with us,” prayed for His followers to have a better life. “I am not asking on behalf of these alone,” He says in John 17, “but also for those who believe in Me through their word, that they may all be one” (John 17:20-21). Though we still see division in the world and even in the church, the promise of God is a kingdom renewed and restored. That’s exactly what we sing and pray with the antiphon O Rex Gentium—that all people would be bound together in their desire for Jesus as King.
Singing “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” often concludes with this verse. It ends with a powerful prayer that Jesus would “bind in one the hearts of all mankind,” that “our sad divisions cease,” and that Jesus Himself would be “our King of Peace.” What a fitting prayer to welcome Christmas, and what an essential prayer to carry into the new year!
Bible in One Year: 1 Peter 1-5
Thought for Today: Are you praying for the day when our conflicts will end and we will all be united under the King of Peace?
Dr. Charles Stanley was the founder of In Touch Ministries and a New York Times best-selling author. Throughout his ministry, he demonstrated a keen awareness of people’s needs and provided Christ-centered biblically based principles for everyday life.
READ MORE TOPICS: OPEN HEAVENS, OUR DAILY BREAD, IN TOUCH, SEEDS OF DESTINY, STREAMS OF JOY, JOEL OSTEEN, MOUNTAIN TOP LIFE, DCLM DAILY MANNA, UCB WORD FOR TODAY