WHITE CHRISTMAS
Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Psalm 51:7 (NLT)
Most of us long for a white Christmas. It just feels more like Christmas when it snows. The last time it really snowed in South Carolina was in 2010 with a big winter storm. I remember a Christmas Day in the late 80s when the weather was like summer. After exchanging gifts, we spent most of the day outside. It was wonderful, but a different kind of Christmas without even a hint of cold.
When snow blankets the world around us, everything gets quiet—all sounds become muffled. And when the snow falls, everything appears clean—like a crisp, white, sparkling sheet of fluffiness. And it's almost blinding when it reflects the sun.
The Bible mentions the phrase white as snow a few times, including in David's plea for the Lord's cleansing from his sin—forgiveness and mercy (Psalm 51). It also appears in Isaiah 1:18 regarding repentance or turning away from sin.
But other verses describe Jesus. Revelation 1:14 depicts the glorified Jesus with hair white as wool, as white as snow. Daniel 7:9 presents the Ancient of Days with clothing white as snow. That's our Jesus! He is without blemish; He is the cleanser. He is holy, and He makes His children holy, white as snow—removing our sins as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). He saves us and makes us like Himself.
It may not have been snowing on the day Jesus was born, but Christmas brought something far more beautiful than snow. It brought the One who came to cleanse us from our sins and make us whiter than snow.
APPLICATION: Are you wishing for a white Christmas this year? Maybe a white Christmas could simply be enjoying the company of the Holy One who came to make you white as snow.
PRAYER: Father, thank You for Christmas, for the cleansing of sin, and for making me holy. Amen.
"… Our Father in heaven…" Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
• What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
"… may your name be kept holy." Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
• What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
"May your Kingdom come soon." Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
• Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
"Give us today the food we need," Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
• Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I'm around today?
"and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us" Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
• Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
"And don’t let us yield to temptation…" Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
• Is there anywhere I'm vulnerable to temptation?