It is finally Christmas Day. The packages have been unwrapped. The Cowboys are playing the Commanders. You made it through the gauntlet of parties, planning, and providing. For so many around us, that is all there is. Wrapping paper, cleaning up, catching a nap, and a game on TV. No wonder my grandfather used to say, “forgive us our Christmases as we forgive those who Christmas against us.” Few things promise more and deliver less than a secular Christmas.
But not for us.
For those of us who are in Christ, Christmas changes everything. We light our houses because the light of the world has come to us. We bring evergreen trees into the living room because that baby in the manger came to give us eternal life. We give one another presents because we have received from God the greatest present of all: His only begotten Son.
We celebrate Christmas because Christ still comes. He comes to us every day. And we proclaim that first verse of Scripture we memorized as children, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” For God so loved the world—the whole world. Whales and tadpoles. Redwoods and daisies. Elephants and Chihuahuas. You and me. Jesus loves you so much He gave up the fullness of heaven for a dark corner of a barn; the Word-made-flesh wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. And all that love made its way to us in Bethlehem. The hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight—Bethlehem. So today we remember.
Jesus gave up His Kingly throne not to be served but to serve. He gave up His life so that you could live—and live free from the guilt of sin and the pain of death.
I hope you’ll take some time today to read Luke 2 and Philippians 2:5-13 and Colossians 1:15-23. That Baby in the manger in Bethlehem is the cosmic Christ who came for you and to you.
It is Christmas day! Rejoice and be glad! Peer into the manger and be awestruck and wonder-filled. And give thanks to God. Let your thanksgiving become thanks-living. That each day the wonder of Christmas might fill you and lead you.
Merry Christmas!
