“Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace.For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”
Luke 2:27-32 The Passion Translation
When Simeon took the babe Jesus into his arms, he was gazing tenderly on the promise of salvation given thousands of years to his people.
As he held the babe, he gazed into the power of the universe in human form, knowing that it was not just a gift for his people but for people – Jesus was given for the salvation of all nations and all nationalities.
Christmas is a thousand stories of revelation, joy, courage and hope when the truth of who Jesus is, is revealed to the soul. He is embodied love, uncontainable light and the majestic glory of God Himself sent from heaven to live vulnerable, speak truth, challenge lies and free the soul from the bondage of sin forever.
Somehow, through the traditions of Christmas in every nation, the gift of love and hope remain. Whether people realize it or not – Christ has not been taken out of Christmas, it is His heart that beats through it all, for all, until all know His eternal love.
Jesus, knowing their thoughts, called them to his side and said, “Kings and those with great authority in this world rule oppressively over their subjects, like tyrants. But this is not your calling. You will lead by a completely different model. The greatest one among you will live as the one who is called to serve others, because the greatest honor and authority is reserved for the one with the heart of a servant. For even the Son of Man did not come expecting to be served but to serve and give his life in exchange for the salvation of many.”
Matthew 20:25-28, The Passion Translation
When Jesus told His closest friends that they were going to lead their lives by a different rule than the world around them, it was the rule of love.
Love is always about attitude.
Love forgets itself, it’s position and its rights.
Love serves.
You can make breakfast for someone but not serve them.
You can work all day at your job and not serve anyone.
You can clean a toilet and only serve to banish grime.
The calling of Christmas is to forget yourself and serve others with abandon, no matter what action is required.
And there is nothing more blessed than to forget yourself, your worries, your struggles and serve with love. It is a relief is this mad world and a gift to you as much as it is to others.
It is the gift of a lifetime given to you by God Himself through the incarnation of Jesus Christ.
That is why there is such a thing as a Merry Christmas.
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 NIV
The heart of Christmas is the heart of God revealed through Jesus.
The why of Christmas is because God didn’t want heaven without you.
The promise of Christmas is that no matter who you are, Jesus came so that you could be in a thriving relationship with God today and for every day after until you step into eternity.
Christmas is about stopping everything and capturing the wondrous moment of joy that Jesus came for you and me.
It is being reinvigorated by an authentic connection with Him.
It is remembering the moment that your relationship to Christ changed from knowing of Him to knowing Him.
Knowing Jesus is real, that He loves you with love’s unconditional voice, not just once but every day.
Not just in some things, but in all things.
My friend, that which began in a manger continues in our hearts today.
Jesus is God’s gift to us, for us and He is God with us.
It’s not business, it’s personal.
May you experience a moment during the craziness of this season that helps you remember that Christmas is more than a tradition but a worldwide celebration of new life in Christ, starting with yours.
“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!” Matthew 13:44-46 NLT
In the above verse, Jesus is telling His own story.
The story of a man who found something so precious, that he happily sold all he had and paid the price for it.
Whatever your day looks like, I pray that today you stop for a minute and realize that your Savior sees you as a priceless pearl worth leaving heaven and all His rights for.
The reason He came to earth as a babe to redeem the treasure that is worth the high price He paid on the Cross- YOU.
What do you think of when you think of having peace?
Do you think of a day without conflict or one without suffering?
I often think that having peace means a day without external noise or internal worry.
“And everything I’ve taught you is so that the peace which is in me will be in you and will give you great confidence as you rest in me. For in this unbelieving world you will experience trouble and sorrows, but you must be courageous, for I have conquered the world!” – John 16:33 TPT
Peace isn’t found in the absence of problems, it is found in the presence of Jesus.
Peace isn’t found in the hope that the world will get it right, it is found in the promise that Jesus already did.
As I write this, the words of an old hymn comes to mind:
“My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness I dare not trust the sweetest frame But wholly lean on Jesus’ name
On Christ the solid Rock I stand All other ground is sinking sand All other ground is sinking sand
When darkness hides His lovely face I rest on His unchanging grace In every high and stormy gale My anchor holds within the veil
On Christ the solid Rock I stand All other ground is sinking sand All other ground is sinking sand
His oath, His covenant, His blood Support me in the whelming flood When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay
On Christ the solid Rock I stand All other ground is sinking sand All other ground is sinking sand
When He shall come with trumpet sound Oh, may I then in Him be found Dressed in His righteousness alone Faultless to stand before the throne’
On Christ the solid Rock I stand All other ground is sinking sand All other ground is sinking sand
by Edward Mote, 1834
My friend, no matter what you are facing this Christmas, my prayer for you is that Jesus would be the rock you stand on.
“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it! Matthew 13:44-46 NLT
In the above verse, Jesus is telling His own story.
The story of a man who found something so precious, that he happily sold all he had and paid the price for it.
Whatever your day looks like, I pray that today you stop for a minute and realize that your Savior sees you as a priceless pearl worth leaving heaven and all His rights for.
The reason He came to earth as a babe to redeem the treasure that is worth the high price He paid on the Cross- YOU.
Just A Minute 