It’s Christmas!
Good Morning Friends,
Listen for the sounds of angels that announce the birth of Christ. Listen for the sound of truth beyond the surface things. Listen for the sounds, savor the taste and smell of God’s love. Look out into the world for the images of Christ and desire to know more. Look through the window of the Christ Child to see God in something very old and also something very new for today It’s Christmas!
Scripture: The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14 (NIV)
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers–all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.
Colossians 1:15-20 (NRSV)
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:14-21 (NRSV)
Message: I find it interesting that the early church did not celebrate Christmas and that during colonial times here some people of faith banned its celebration. It was not an official Federal Holiday in the United States until 1870.There is evidence that it is an evolving Holy Holiday. The Holidays without Hunger event that One by One helped to sponsor yesterday, packaging up more than half a million meals for the poor and homeless, is such an example. At Christmas Eve worship services the luminaries we put out no longer have candles but now LED lights. We have glow sticks for the children and for adults, candles for the candlelight service. Christmas is certainly is not celebrated the same way it was fifty years ago. Perhaps the most evident shift is the language of season. More and more people, especially the young, are wishing others a Happy Holiday vs. the more traditional have a Merry Christmas. I do hope people know that the root of Holiday is Holy Day. Some things we see and some things we do not. Some things we do the same and others change. I am glad we still sing and ring handbells for Christmas Eve. I and glad there are presents under the decorated Christmas tree in our family room. Now the day for which we have been waiting is here and I feel both very small and larger than life. Friends, it maybe the little town of Bethlehem…it may be the little Lord Jesus….but do not make the mistake thinking Christ small. We should never minimize Christ and especially so at Christmas. Have a merry one…have a holy one. Celebrate the great mystery.
Pray the spirit of Christmas come into our hearts…be born in our hearts. Pray we see God through the eyes of Jesus. Pray we realize that the birth cannot happen without some pain. Pray we accept God’s blessing in our life on this Christmas Day. Pray we realize that it is worth the wait. Pray we would be wise enough to seek Jesus. Pray we realize that Jesus’ timing is perfect.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 