Devotions ... The third day of Christmas

Most of us have already returned to our normal lives by the third day of Christmas. We have spent advent (since Thanksgiving or even before) awaiting Christmas Day. By the third day we have picked up and thrown away all the wrapping paper. Many toys are already broken. There might still be enough turkey for a turkey sandwich. Whoo! Christmas is finally over and now we can get on to the new year.
The third day of Christmas, three French hens, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree. Contrary to public opinion as evidenced by nativity creches, the shepherds have gone to tell that Jesus Christ was born on the mountain, over the hill and everywhere. The three wise men who represent the magi’s gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh haven’t even arrived but by making them part of the creche, we remember they came.
The third day is important to God.
The third day of creation was good, the earth brought forth grass, herbs and fruit trees after their kind whose seed was in itself.
The third day Abraham lifted up his eyes to Mt. Moriah where he was to sacrifice Isaac but the rock became the altar, the temple mound where Herod’s temple stood and the Dome of the Rock stands today, where the plague was stayed during the time of David and David purchased it from Araunah, a place to worship God with that which cost him something (2 Samuel 24). That third day, Abraham said to his servants, stay here while my son and I go yonder, worship and come again to you. Wow! What faith, Abraham! By faith he saw Isaac killed and raised from the dead. “We will come again to you.” (Genesis 22)
The third day, Hezekiah went up to the house of the LORD after Isaiah told him God had heard his prayer, seen his tears and healed him. (2 Kings 20: 5 – 8)
The third day, at a marriage in Cana of Galilee, Jesus Christ performed his first miracle turning water to wine. (John 2:1)
The third day, Christ was perfected (Luke 13:32) ... Jesus Christ rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:4, Acts 10:40, Luke 24:7, 21, 46, Luke 18:33, Luke 9:22, Mark 10:34, Mark 9:31, Matthew 16:21, 17:23, 20:19, 27:64)
Hosea’s prophecy gives hope of a future resurrection the third day. (Hosea 6:1 – 2)
Three French hens, wise men bearing three gifts following a Star in the East, stopped to ask Herod where the king of the Jews was born. The gifts of Faith, Hope and Love bring us back to today, forgetting what is behind and reaching for the future: epiphany, enlightenment, revelation, or spiritual insight. The seeds of God’s word are sown in our hearts by the preaching of those sent to scatter the seeds of good news into soil prepared by repentance and faith to receive them, bring forth after their kind, some thirty, some sixty and some a hundred fold.
(Cathy Bayert is pastor of Greybull First Baptist Church.)