Merry Christmas!

Hopefully you have had some time in the busyness of this season to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas. The world tries its best to distract us with parties, gift exchanges, shopping, and more. We get focused on the here and now. Don't get me wrong, it is great to be present. But at Christmas time, we need to be focused on our greatest present, Jesus Christ.

For that we can think back to the creation of the world when He spoke everything into existence. We can fast forward to a little over 2,000 years ago when the Angel Gabriel announced His up-coming birth.

Be encouraged by His mother's response to the news. She said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” Mary had such a beautiful response and yet it challenges me. What would have been my first reaction? I can promise it would not have been as gracious and submissive as hers. So it makes me think--where am I wrestling with the Lord in His will for my life? Where am I discontent?

It is a great time of the year to deal with those issues. Get rid of the anger, bitterness, resentment, and/or discontentment in your heart. Start the new year trusting that whatever trial God has you in right now is for your good and His glory, even if you don't understand.

I cannot imagine that Mary ever understood God's plan completely. All the angel revealed to her was "He (Jesus) will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

She is not told everything. Think about it from her perspective. With His timing, she and Joseph had to travel 90 miles to Bethlehem while she was close to her due date. Then when they arrived, there was no room at the inn. So after giving birth, she "wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger."

Then her young family goes into hiding in Egypt because King Herod is killing all the male babies. As Jesus grows up, he goes into the temple instead of traveling home with his family. The panic she must have felt as she and Joseph searched for him. And yet when she finally found her son and He responds, we are told that she doesn't understand His answer. But she does "treasure up all the things in her heart."

What are the things she treasures? We are not told exactly. From the previous sentence, it seems to be who Jesus was--the Son of God and yet He was submissive to His parents. These are the exact same things we need to focus on this week. Reflect on who Jesus is, what He did, what He later accomplishes on the cross, and how He reigns today. Then stand in awe and marvel that He would have to do this to save even one sinner like yourself.

Let you heart be filled with gratitude and treasure up all these things. Join the angels in worshipping the Lord by saying, "Glory to God in the highest!" And may you experience the peace that passes all understanding that only Christ can give.

Merry Christmas!