It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas
By now you have probably had Perry Como, Bing Crosby, Johnny Mathis, Michael Bublé, and a host of others remind you that since it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, you better get busy with your decorating and shopping!
While advent helps us focus on the birth of Jesus and his ultimate second coming, it is easy to slip into stressful days as we try to finish our work, buy the right gifts, send the holiday cards, gather the family, and on and on. While we attempt to focus on the peace, joy, and love that Jesus offers, we fight with self-induced expectations of what our Christmas should be like.
It is completely natural to want to find and give good gifts to those we love. You may be a great shopper and seem to find wonderful treasures for your friends and family. But as good as you are, it is impossible to always find the right size, the right color, the right gadget, but James reminds us that “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
During advent we are reminded that the world desperately needs a savior. The good news is that God sent the world the good and perfect gift of a savior born in Bethlehem over 2,000 years ago. As we read scripture, pray, and wait, we prepare our hearts and minds to humbly receive the gift of our savior with anticipation of how he will continue the work of transformation in us through this season.
This week I had the pleasure of saying a few words and offering a prayer before the West Point, Georgia, Christmas tree was officially lit for this season. Most of us enjoy the beauty of the variety of lights we see at Christmas. James reminds us that God is the Father of lights. He spoke light into the world at the creation. Throughout scripture, light is associated with God:
The Lord is my light and my salvation, according to David. (Psalms 27:1)
John reminds us that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5)
Matthew records that as Jesus began to preach he reminded his listeners that “the people living in darkness have seen a great light.”
As we enjoy the lights of the season, may we reflect on the gift of a savior who came from the Father of lights so that we might be forgiven and transformed into a beautiful reflection of God’s light that shines through us each day.
Father, open our eyes to see Jesus all through this advent season. We wait with anticipation of celebrating the gift of our savior this season. Transform our hearts and minds as we seek you daily. And may the light of Christ shine through us as we give ourselves to others this Christmas. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your Time with God’s Word
James 1:17-18; Matthew 4:16 ESV
Photo by Elliott B on Unsplash
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