Christmas Day is may favorite holiday by just a nose over Thanksgiving. I have been thinking this morning about the birth of Christ, which we celebrate today. I think about the sacrifice He offered for us, on our behalf.
I have been thinking about our motives too. Not just today. I like giving gifts, when I can afford it. It is harder to give when it hurts though, right? Food, bills, mortgage... ...gas... ...where exactly does this fit?
I have been thinking about the hard times that we see in the news, both here and around the world. No, it's not a comfortable world today in too many places...
For Christ, I think it was not "comfortable" at all. Leaving the comforts of Heaven, He lived in the squalor of this sinful world in obedience to the Father. Then, in obedience to the Father, He performed countless miracles, lived with nothing to call His own and then was killed as a common thief.
He became the first hero at His birth and He confirmed it with His death and ressurrection. "No greater love hath any man than this..." - Jesus
He came not to be served, but to serve...
He did not have so much as a bed to sleep... ...in this world.
Materialism is not the point of our gifts at Christmas. At the heart of it, the trinkets we treasure were not even desireable to Him who knew what awaited Him. Instead, gifts should be in honor of the Hero, Jeaus Christ. He gave all He had, because nothing less would do.
Now, He has Heaven again, but not He alone; and He will reign forever and ever - King of kings and Lord of lords in this world too. "Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord..."
