As you come into the room where your Christmas tree is, the first thing you notice are all of the presents under the tree. Even the Christmas stockings hung by the chimney have gifts bulging out of them! You can hardly wait for the rest of your family to wake up so you can start opening your presents. But for now, there’s a quiet stillness in the house that you’ve never noticed before.
As you walk toward the Christmas tree, you notice that a few of Santa’s cookies are missing, along with the glass of milk you left for him the night before. You smile as you remember believing in Santa when you were much younger. On the same table as Santa’s cookies stands the nativity scene your family puts out every Christmas season. You stop to look at it a little more closely and your imagination begins to take you back to that moment in time. You wonder what it would have been like to be Mary giving birth in a stable. There are many things you wonder about that baby.
Eventually you head over to the Christmas tree and you notice a couple of presents with your name on them. You pick one up and shake it gently, trying to figure out what might be inside. You notice all of the unique ornaments on the tree and remember the stories your parents have told you about each one as you helped them decorate the tree.
“What’s the meaning behind all of this?” you wonder. “Why do we go through all of this every year?” As your mind drifts in thought, you hear the sounds of your family beginning to wake up and head toward you, so you quickly put your present back under the tree. You’re ready to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.
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Our God is a God of mystery and intrigue. Just when we think we’ve got God figured out, God surprises us.
Take a few minutes to “chew on” the following Scripture verses, allowing God’s Spirit to speak to you.
“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”
While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”