Today's date -12-12-12-- hasn't occurred very often. In fact, only persons who are at least 100 years old have been around long enough to witness this occurrence for a second time.
People are fascinated by unique combinations of numbers. In fact, many people chose to get married today because of the rarity of today's date. If they made a point to get married today, I'm sure some of them decided to go all the way and get married at...you guessed it,12:12pm.
Twelve is actually quite a special number. There are 12 hours on a clock, and every 12 hours the time changes from night to day and vice versa. There are 12 items in a dozen, 12 inches in a foot and 12 months in a year. A jury consists of 12 persons. I read an interesting MSN article that explained how the number 12 is a unique number mathematically because it breaks down into halves, thirds, fourths, sixths and twelfths.
Biblically, twelve is also special because there were 12 disciples, 12 gates to the city, 12 tribes of Israel, and after suffering for 12 years, a woman was healed from an issue of blood-- a healing that took place while Jesus was on His way to heal a 12-year-old girl whom He raised from the dead. After Jesus performed a miracle by feeding the multitudes with fish and loaves there were 12 baskets filled with leftovers. I could provide "dozens" more examples, but I think you get the picture. The number 12 has great significance and is more prominent in our lives then we realize.
How appropriate that in this special month, the 12 month, we would celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Scholars may continue to debate whether December 25 is the actual birth date of Christ. But, there is no debate that He was born, lived and died over 2000 years ago. His life and death are not only matters of faith, but they are matters of historical record.
It is quite amazing that Christians throughout the entire world all agreed to celebrate Christ's birth on the same day in the same month. It's hard enough to get 12 people to unanimously agree on anything, let alone dozens and dozens of people all throughout the world. The level of worldwide agreement that it took to settle on December 25 as the day to celebrate Christ's birth is reason enough to celebrate because that depth of agreement is truly a miracle!
As this day draws to a close, and as this year draws to a close, I challenge you to look back over the past twelve months and find at least one miraculous thing God did for you. Even if you have had a tough and challenging year, if you reflect deeply enough, you will see moments where God either calmed the storm or calmed you and carried you through the storm. If you think about it, there were times throughout the year when you were almost down to the midnight hour and God came through, or even if He didn't come through the way you expected, today you are still able to stand because you are on the other side of through.
Twelve days from now will be Christmas Eve. When the clock strikes 12 at midnight on Christmas Eve, will we welcome Christmas morning with visions of sugar plums dancing in our heads or will we usher in the day with praise and thanksgiving--focusing on what we can give to the Lord, not what He can give to us?
This Christmas, before opening any presents, lets open our hearts to Jesus like never before. Lets present our bodies as living sacrifices unto Him and allow Him to order our steps in His Word. If we've in any way allowed ourselves to get off track this year, let the celebration of Christ's birth be a time for our rebirth. Let's mark the 12 days of Christmas by taking at least one step toward our destiny each day, moving beyond our past, our pain, our failures, even our successes. Start tonight with a new prayer. Send an encouraging e-mail to a friend--or to an enemy! Read a devotional. Watch an inspiring program. Whatever your fresh start entails, allow 12-12-12 to be the alarm bell that says, let's start living well.
BNcouraged!
Rev. Karen
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