Isaiah 40:8
The grass withers, the flower wilts, but the word of our God stands forever.
Today is the Feast of St. Nicholas. Where I was born, in German-influenced Milwaukee, families celebrated today with stockings (some use shoes) filled with gifts. When we moved to Florida I didn't know many other kids who got gifts on St. Nicholas Day, but for once, I was OK with being the oddball! This morning my boys will wake up to stockings - each has an orange and a couple other small presents.
There is something so fun about reaching down in the stocking and pulling out little toys or treats. With each pull something new is revealed. And then that orange! The orange is a symbol of the gold coins that Nicholas left in the shoes (read up on St. Nick here). I don't think my boys are excited about the orange, but I'm glad they know it will be there.
What does this have to do with today's scripture? Everything! The word of God is a lot like the gifts in these stockings. You reach in and pull out gifts in the form of promises, direction and encouragement. And just like that orange - it's dependable. It'll be there. The difference between the word of God and the St. Nicholas stockings: you don't have to wait another 365 days to receive it. It's ready and waiting to give you a gift today.
