As I sat this morning reading and praying I was struck with the focus we put upon this holiday season. We are so tired by all the time spent in preparation, gift buying, travel, family, outdoor activities, and food! We run from here to there and many times we are so exhausted we can barely stay a float. We stress the great gift ideas all others should have in their minds when they go to buy our gifts. We make sure we are not naughty or but very very nice this time of the year. Santa is the most anticipated visitor arriving at our homes this Christmas Eve. We are so excited we can even go on line now to watch on our computers the path of Santa as he makes sure everyone gets their gifts. I always wondered how he was able to get down all those chimneys and back – he even can get in without a chimney. (never could figure that one out as a small boy)
Yet, as I sat there this morning looking outside to the very cold Minnesota winter. I was struck by the fact that we must realize that the greatest visitor and the greatest gift has already been given to us. Jesus the baby boy born on Christmas Day was the gift of God to men and women of this world. Jesus came as a human being, grew in stature and strength. Jesus formed a group of twelve to take the message God had given Him to bring to the world. We see in John that the world would reject Him. Then that gift went to the cross (wow a gift on the cross) died and three days later rose again as the payment for our sins. Do you actually know the outcome of Christmas – you will never truly understand Christmas until you fully understand Easter. Praise God Jesus is Risen
