A very large crowd of people assembled in Jerusalem to celebrate. (2 Chron. 30:13)
Expanded Passage: 2 Chronicles 30:1, 13
I have attended a variety of church services with all kinds of cultures, languages, and practices throughout my life as a missionary kid and then as a missionary, but one of my favorite services since we returned to the United States has been the 11:00 p.m. Christmas Eve service in the small, downtown Episcopal church of the town we have lived in for many years. Because the town is relatively small, this gathering is often one of the few (if not the only) late-night Protestant Christmas Eve services for miles.
People from various churches, denominations, cultures, economic classes, identities, and colors gather together in one place to celebrate with words, candles, and music. I look around with pleasure at those gathered in the pews and am thrilled that for one night of celebration we can come together with joy and celebration of the birth of Jesus rather than focus on our differences.
Hezekiah spent years directing the revival of the temple and then invited those of Israel and Judah, as well as Ephraim and Manasseh, to worship together. He sent out invitations, and they came! There was a determination to be unified and a large crowd assembled to worship the Lord. The king bowed down alongside his people. We can only imagine the joy of the Lord to see the unification of his people in celebration and humble worship.
Work toward unity of worship.
Sandy Emmett is the director of care for Global Partners of The Wesleyan Church. She enjoys riding bicycles, hiking, walking her dogs, playing with her grandchildren, and reading a good book.
© 2024 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
