DEVOTION
I spent this afternoon, Sunday, December 1, 2024, putting out and up our Christmas decorations. Well, I at least got them all out and placed them as much as I possibly could remember from the past year where they are all supposed to go. However, tomorrow, my sweetie will spend the day rearranging and re-decorating all that I have “mis-decorated” in the first place! But hey! That’s what men are supposed to do, isn’t it? I mean, we get down the boxes that are all labeled from the previous year and placed high on a shelf so that our wives can tell us where and how it’s supposed to go. Am I right or am I wrong? Even though I had help from a few of our strong young male grandchildren in getting the boxes down on Thanksgiving eve, how in the world am I, as a member of the opposite sex, supposed to remember where everything went from the previous year’s decorations? That’s not our job, it’s our wives job, you know, those sweet-lovable-smart females with the heart of gold and the remembrance of an elephant who can tell us strong, somewhat dimwitted, but kind-hearted members of the male sex what and where everything is supposed to go? After all, it has been a whole year since they were last put up, hasn’t it? Who, among the male population, can remember that far back? I don’t even know if a course in “Recollection and Remembrance” would help? But when it’s all said and done, each of us can say a word of thanks to our wives for doing such a wonderful job.
Christmas is the most beautiful time of the year, you know. Not only are our homes decorated, but so are the streets and downtown business sections of our cities decorated with all kinds of lights, garlands, and reefs. It’s kind of fun to drive around and see all the beautiful scenery that is on display. Yet, none of it, as wonderful as they are, can ever compare to the beauty and words of encouragement that were put on display that first Christmas morning. The shepherds who were out in the fields watching over their sheep, suddenly saw the night sky light up with a beauty so rare that it took their breath away! The three wise men from Babylon, who had been discovering the prophecies of Daniel for quite some time, saw and followed the brightest and most awesome star they had ever seen, until it came and stood over the place where the young Christ child lay. Even Joseph, the earthly father of our Savior, was visited by an angelic presence he had never seen before, and Mary, the earthly vessel and mother of this unique baby in a manger, was visited by none other than the Lord God Himself, in the form of the Holy Spirit.
But perhaps more wonderful than the sudden appearance of the heavenly visions was the messages of the angelic visitors as they came to tell the whole world of the birth of the Savior that was about to be born that night. Unto Mary, Gabriel announced, “Do not be afraid Mary, for you have found favor with God. For you will conceive and give birth to a son who is to be called “Jesus”, for he will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and he will be given the throne of his father, David.” Unto Joseph, in a dream, the angel of the Lord said, “Joseph, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because she has been conceived by the Holy Spirit. And the son that will be born unto her is to be called Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Unto the shepherds on the hillside, the angel of the Lord said, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I proclaim unto you good news of great joy for all people, for unto you this day is born a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” And the three wise men from far away came bearing gifts that were fit for a king, for they knew that they had been following a star that would lead them to a young child who was born King of the Jews, and had come all this way to worship Him.”
Whether He is called, the Son of the Most High, or Immanuel, or Christ the Lord, His name is called Jesus, and He came to rescue us from the destruction of our sin. Christmas is meant for you, and this Christmas season can be the most powerful and most wonderful Christmas of all, if you will receive Him as your Savior and Lord. Will you do that today?
