Every Christmas, we look forward to reading the account of the incarnate Christ as a reminder of who we are really celebrating…of all that became available to up because Jesus chose to come.
“7 And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 ‘Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!'” Luke 2:7-12 (NKJV)
I sat in awe trying to take it all in. But it was too big. Too grand. Too much! Way too much to wrap my mind around.
It was my first real CHRISTmas and I finally got it!
Jesus! Christmas was about CHRIST!
I mean, I knew about the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and I knew about the cross that awaited the Savior of the world. But what I didn’t know was that I was the ‘world’ He came for.
He came for me!
And He came for you!
The cradle. The cross. The crown of thorns – it was all for me and you!
And He came for all who would not only believe with their heads, but receive with their hearts, the truth that Jesus is the Messiah who came to save us all from our sins and give us not only eternal life, but also abundant life.
But I knew me.
I knew what kind of person I had become.
Unworthy of such great love and forgiveness.
Wondering how I was going to live out the new me I had just become instead of continuing to live like the broken little girl I had always been.
Afraid I would fail God. Feeling like I might let Him down. Knowing He would always love me anyway… but wondering how He could.
Such great love! Such overwhelmingly, captivating, relentless, unconditional love.
Ah yes! For the first time in my life, I knew that even if I let Him down, I was still His and He was still mine. Forever. Yeah…part of God’s forever family! Finally!
And my first Christmas. Well… I was WOWed.
WOWed by His amazing, overwhelming, captivating, relentless, unconditional love.
And as I gazed at the lights, the tree, the wreath, and the candy canes, everything took on a new meaning. Maybe not even a new meaning… but they finally all had meaning for me.
JESUS really IS the reason for the season.
Christmas is really all about CHRIST.
And then it occurred to me that JESUS is not only the reason for the holiday season, He is the reason for every season.
And perhaps Christmas isn’t just a day we celebrate in December, but instead, it is CHRISTmas every day of the year!
Yeah… it really is all about Jesus.
Not just Christmas, but life.
On October 11, 1987 Jesus made me His. And on December 25th, 1987, Christmas became CHRISTmas in my heart for the first time.
HOW ABOUT YOU? WHEN DID YOU REALLY GET CHRISTmas?
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