Once on a retreat I was telling the director all the things I wanted to do for God. He laughed at me. “You don’t do for God,’ he said, “God does for you.” That is what King David found. He wanted to build a house for God. The prophet had a vision which he relayed to David: The LORD also reveals to you that he will establish a house for you. You don’t do for God, God does for you. Christmas is exhibit A in what God does for us. According to Zachariah, “To those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,” a child will come bringing the “tender compassion of our God” to enlighten and show us the way to peace.
