CHRISTMAS IS HERE!! Heck yes! I don’t know about you, but I wait all year – literally ALL YEAR – for Christmas. The whole month of December is just awesome: all the lights, music, movies, decorations, presents….
But the best thing about Christmas is God sending Jesus to us (and I am NOT saying that just because I’m a PK). Everyone was so excited when they heard Jesus was born.
What can babies do, though? Be cute? Cry? Drool? Crawl around? What’s so exciting about another baby being born?
HE CAME HERE TO SAVE US. You. Me. The annoying kid at your school. The show-off on your sports team. The argumentative kid in your neighborhood. HE CAME TO SAVE ALL OF US. EVERYBODY. EVERYONE.
God loves you – me, everyone – so, so much.
Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?… No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow — not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below — indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:35, 37-39
But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. – Romans 5:8
God showed how much He loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him. This is real love — not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and His love is brought to full expression in us. – 1 John 4:9-12
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. – John 3:16
Sure, getting gifts is great – what kid (or adult!) doesn’t like getting presents? I love waking up on Christmas morning and unwrapping the gifts from under the tree and in my stocking. Getting gifts makes me feel happy and loved.
But more than that, I love going out (or online!) and getting presents for others, wrapping them up with wrapping paper and a bow, and giving it to them on Christmas morning (or really whenever). It’s my small, simple way to say, “Hey, I love you and am so thankful for you” to my friends and family. And, best part, I love when they open their gift, see it, and smile. Mission accomplished!
Of course, I’m sure Jesus didn’t come to this earth in wrapping paper and a nice bow. But did that really matter? God sent us the Messiah!
I’m sure most of you will agree: Christmas is pretty much the best day of the year.
So, today, have fun, be with those you love, eat lots of food, laugh a bunch, and have a holly, jolly, merry, cheerful, happy, cheery, bright, joyful Christmas. And remember how much God loves you and what Christmas is really about.
Daily Challenge: Throughout your day, don’t forget the CHRIST in CHRISTmas.
Comment Below: For fun, what’s something you really want for Christmas? For seriousness, what is one of the greatest gifts God has given you (besides Jesus)?
A very thoughtful Devo Charity. It sets the right theme for the whole day. What do I want for Christmas? To spend most of the day with family and friends enjoying food, fellowship, and laughs… all the while acknowledging and experiencing God’s peace and presence within myself and in those I meet.
And the greatest gift God has given me? A woman named Judy to be my lifelong friend and partner through all the ups and downs of life. ❤️