As I sit in the living room, while husband has taken the little ones so I can have some time to write. I am penning more parts of my story. My story I sketch, but He Authors. What does this have to do with the Christmas spirit? I wonder for a moment, and I wonder no longer.
Christ Child coming for me, is Christmas.
As much as I enjoy smelling the fragrance of the live evergreen tree that stands beautiful in the corner, I must remember that as I share my story, the testimony of my salvation, and His handiwork in me, I am to be…
“…the sweet fragrance of Christ, which exhales, unto God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.”
2 Corinthians 2:15
As much as I absolutely adore the ambience created by Christmas lights I see twinkling from the corner of my eye,
I must remember that Jesus is Life, and that Life is the Light that will light the world, for the people who walked in darkness, to see a great Light. For those who lived in a land of deep shadows— Light! sunbursts of Light! (Isaiah 9:6)
As I relish in the beauty of the fire light flickering in its place, keeping me warm,
I must feel the Holy Spirit, a Spirit of fire and God, a Fire that consumes. Flaming for Him, I must shout it out, “He was sent so that we would not have to live in eternal punishment in the lake that burns with fire!”
As much as I enjoy the tradition of the tree adorned with beautiful ornaments that hang,
I must remember Christ was hung on a tree, adorned with a crown of piercing thorns, nailed as One cursed, for me died a criminal’s death so that I would live.
“Long before He laid down earth’s foundations, He had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of His love, to be made whole and holy by His love. Long, long ago He decided to adopt us into His family through Jesus Christ.”
Ephesians 1:4
As parents we delight to give gifts to our children, in emulation of the gift giving from the Magi to Christ Child, and the greatest Gift given because God so loved the world. In this season, Christmas gifts have become the focus too regularly for us…
…with words whispered that Jesus is the reason,
and lives lived and savings spent that shout otherwise.
The men wise come to worship, bringing the Christ Child gifts, “And when they had come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary His mother, and fell down, and worshipped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.”
Matthew 2:11
Brought to Him, bowed in reverence to the Child, giving the most precious metal of their day and ours. Gold, a gift of wealth as an offering to a Child King, the King of Kings.
Frankincense given in worship of Christ, taking on flesh and time, laying His majesty aside, so we could live, sins forgiven, for eternity with Him.
And the foreboding of His death, the gift of Myrrh. There upon the cross they gave Him wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but He received it not. (Matt 15:22) Hanging on the tree, instead of tasting myrrh to numb His pain, Jesus tasted death for every one of us. And myrrh for preparation of His burial, that Nicodemus brought. (John 19:39)
And here as I ponder about Christmas, and I write the part of my story where I tell about how I fell in love with the Word, how can I separate the two because…
…the Word became flesh for me and you, and dwelt among us.
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given,
and His Name will be called…
Wonderful,
Counselor,
Mighty God,
Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace
and we beheld His glory,
the glory as of the Only Begotten of the Father,
so we can live our lives…
full of GRACE and TRUTH.
John 1:14, Isaiah 9:6