Praying for a Wonderful Christmas

Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge, for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips. (Proverbs 22:17-18 ESV). Perhaps one of the greatest American preachers of this century was Herschel H. Hobbs. He was well known for his teachings and writings. He was indeed a wise man. Even though Dr. Hobbs is now gone from this world, he continues to teach me much through his thoughtful writing and biblical analysis. Here's what this wise man once wrote in response to the question, "What Is Christmas All About?" "Christmas is more than tinsel and toys, trees and toddies, gifts and greetings. It is not merely a word of goodwill lightly spoken and soon forgotten in the raucous cries of conflict. Christmas is a message of peace on earth among men who are pleasing to God. It is Immanuel, God with us. It is God bending low to lift men up out of the sin and mire of a world, which has forgotten God and His will for lost men. It is God in a cradle, the Eternal in a tender baby's flesh and form. But Christmas does not stop in Bethlehem. It reaches beyond to Calvary, to the empty tomb, and to the throne where the Savior sits, waiting for His enemies to become His footstool. It is the good news of salvation to all men who will receive it. As the shepherds came to the manger, saw the Christ child, and went forth to tell the glad tidings; as the Wise Men came from afar to worship and give gifts to Him, so should the faithful today bow before Him in worship, praise, and consecration, and then go forth to declare the gospel to a lost world. That is what Christmas is all about!" Our reading today reminds us to listen to the words of the wise. These words certainly qualify! Apply them to your Christmas celebrations this year. But don't stop with Christmas. Think about 2015. As Dr. Hobbs put it, go forth to declare the gospel to a lost world in 2015. Jesus, the One whose birth we celebrate, expects nothing less than that from every Christian. If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator; If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist; If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist; If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer; But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all. My prayer for you is that you will know this Savior and be filled with His presence all year long!