Traditions of Christmas - Pt 3

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:1-13 ESV). God has made it clear that He wants to live in our hearts and our homes. He is not interested in a weekend getaway, or a Sunday bungalow. God desires to reign as Lord of our homes now and always. He knows no difference between Wednesdays and Sundays. He wants His children to worship Him not only at the Communion table, but at the dinner table as well. We may go days without once thinking of God, but He never goes one moment without thinking of us. He wants a love relationship with us and it is the most important relationship we can have. We need to seek Him and get to know Him. In Jeremiah, God promises us, “You will find Me if you seek Me with all your heart.” The greatest gift we can give Christ is our constant love and devotion. Just as He commanded us to love Him with all our hearts, He instructed us to love others as ourselves. So at Christmas time we honor God when we focus on our relationships more than on our duties. All that we have and all that we are is because of Him. We show our love by communicating with Him and depending on Him, by using our cars as sanctuaries of prayer, or our office breaks as time studying His Word. Like George Bailey and Ebenezer Scrooge, try to imagine this world without you and your loved ones. Imagine that Christ never came and that God never chose to give you new life. Imagine no Christmas, no gifts, no special times with family. Life itself would have no meaning. Yet we find our meaning and our hope in the wondrous message the angels brought on that glorious night long ago, “Behold I bring you good news of great joy!” The news is that our God loves us! So let us thank Him for granting us new life and eternal security with Him in heaven. Thank God for Jesus Christ, and thank God for the wonderful traditions of Christmas.