So what's so great about Christmas? We stand in long lines at the check-out counters; we sit in long lines at the traffic signals; we drop in long lines in our restless sleep--but wait! Somone else is standing in line. Look closely for HE'S waiting too--for us all to STOP the frenzied baking, buying, trimming, wrapping, rushing, running--out of money and out of breath--long enough to LISTEN for the sounds of His words to our hearts. When we stop and listen--long enough, we will GO...to tell the world that the Jesus of our humanity, the Christ of His divinity is "with us" - and THAT'S the real meaning of Christmas! Come to the well and meet Him there. I promise you will NOT have to stand in line--and THAT'S only the beginning of what's so great about Christmas! Come and see!
A Helping Word...or
Two!
The Great Call...Come Unto Me!
Listen closely and you will hear it...not from the manger, for He didn't stay there. He grew up as a child, then as a man, a God-man. He lived, suffered, died, and rose again, so that He might say to each of us, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28 KJV)." We hear His call, we follow, and we find His promise to be true. The awesome Baby in the manger becomes the awesome Savior of my soul. God with me, through the highs and lows of life--the good days and the bad days, the defeats and the victories, the successes and the failures, the sicknesses and the health. He calls, I respond, and I rest in Him--now THAT'S Christmas to me!
The Great Crown...Walk with Me!
Love deeply and you will give it...not a Wise Man's crown, for it only began there. I see them placing gifts at the young child's feet--might they have placed their crowns there also? I would like to think so! I would like to think that in those special moments, they believed-- they KNEW--and that knowledge changed their lives forever. For one will only KNOW the Christ of Christmas as he, or she, crowns Him Lord. That's when the walk begins--a journey for a lifetime, full of His goodness, grace and glory. But it only happens when you lay it all down, not at the feet of a Babe, but at the foot of the Cross. "Love so amazing, so divine; demands my life, my strength, my all." I crown Him Lord; He walks with me and becomes the crowning joy of my life--now THAT'S Christmas to me!
The Great Commission...Go with Me!
Look closely and you will see...not the Babe but a Savior; not a tree, but a Cross; not a gift, but His Grace--outpoured to a world He loves. He has commissioned us to tell a lost world that the Christ of Christmas is come, not to be born, but to die, to give His life so that any soul anywhere might find Him and know Him, "whom to know is life eternal." The world celebrates in a dizzy display of lights, laughter, and leaving the party--sober, we hope! The Christian celebrates in a delightful display of a Christ-centered life, filled with love for his Lord and His world. The Christ of Christmas invites me to work with Him--to bring His Light into a darkened life and a darkened world--now THAT'S Christmas to me!
What's so great about Christmas? Jesus Christ! Enjoy this wonderful Christmas season--with good food and fun; great friends and family--invite Him to your celebrations, and they'll be even better! But in the middle of it all, let's take time for some private moments of quiet worship of the Christ we love. Let's respond to the One who says, "Come with Me," "Walk with Me," "Go with Me." That may JUST be the Christmas gift He wants from YOU this year! I want Him to be "with me," my Emmanuel on the journey of life, not just on Christmas! How about you!
...and that's just a thought or two--from my heart to yours!
"'Twas the Night before Easter!" - popular parody at Peggie's Place! . . . More Easter resources
