I have a Christmas confession.

I’ve been watching Christmas movies and listening to Christmas music for much longer than a couple of months.  Matter of fact, it wasn’t even Halloween when we were watching “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and “Polar Express”.

The happiest Christmas perk, however, wasn’t months and months of celebration in waiting for our culture to catch up to me.  Instead, it was right after Thanksgiving when our two children, Dani and Jonah, told us the story of Christmas: Jesus being born in Bethlehem to be our Savior.

Oh, to continuously see the story of Jesus through the eyes of a child.  May we capture the wonder over the next twelve days (You do know that Christmas is actually a twelve-day celebration and that’s why the song is “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” right?).

May we remember how the world changed in the life of Jesus.

May we remember how our lives changed that night in Bethlehem as well.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.
We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,
}who came from the Father, full of grace and truth…
No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only,
who is at the Father’s side, has made him known”

John 1:14,18

The great gulf between humanity and holiness was bridged by our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Enjoy this day of family and friends, but please—please—don’t let the real “magic” of Christmas go away with the shredded wrapping paper.

Take a long hard look at the nativity scene…and never forget what that Baby in that manger gave up for you and me.  A great many babies have grown up to become kings, but only one King became a baby.  And this king became a baby to rescue His subjects.

Happy, Happy Christmas to humanity indeed!

Verse 1
O come all ye faithful
Joyful and triumphant
O come ye O come ye to Bethlehem
Come and behold Him
Born the King of angels

Verse 2
Sing choirs of angels
Sing in exultation
O sing all ye bright
Hosts of heav’n above
Glory to God
All glory in the highest

Verse 3
Yea Lord we greet Thee
Born this happy morning
Jesus to Thee be all glory giv’n
Word of the Father
Now in flesh appearing

Chorus
O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
Christ the Lord

“O Come All Ye Faithful”
Frederick Oakeley | John Francis Wade
Public Domain