The Wonder of Christmas

Wonder is part of Christmas.  The word “wonder” means “to marvel, to be amazed, or to stand in awe.”  So, what is it about Christmas that causes people to wonder?  Some people wonder at Christmas time because they see such things as: Christmas trees and brightly colored lights. Others have a sense of wonder when they see the snow glistening in the moonlight or hear the snow crunch under their feet as they walk.  Still others tend to wonder when they see beautiful Christmas decorations, hear or sing Christmas carols, or watch a church Christmas program.  These things, enjoyed by most everyone, are all part of the Christmas season.  However, there is something else about Christmas that causes people to wonder.  This wonder is found in the most famous verse in the Bible – John 3:16 – which says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  Let’s examine the wonder of Christmas from this biblical perspective.

1)      God’s Motive.  The wonder of Christmas begins with God’s motive which is one of love.  Why did God send the Christ-child to be born in a manger?  Why did God speak to the shepherds on the Bethlehem hillside telling them about the Savior’s birth?  Why did the wise men come to worship the newborn king?  God did these things to share His love for us.  The verse begins, “For God so loved the world,” means that He wrapped his love in the person of His one and only son, Jesus, and sent him to “The world” – to all people, including you and me.  “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

2)      God’s Method.  The wonder of Christmas continues with God’s method which is the act of giving.  The verse simply says that “He gave.”  At Christmas we give gifts to family members and friends to demonstrate our love for them.  God did the same for us.  He loved us so much that he gave us his son to show his great love for us.  “He [Jesus] himself bore our sins in his body on the tree [cross], so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed” (I Peter 2:24).

3)      God’s Miracle.  The wonder of Christmas is God’s miracle which is explained as eternal life.  When Jesus died on the cross he made it possible for us to have a right relationship with God and experience “eternal life.”  This miracle is available for everyone who “believes in Him.”  Belief in him is needed along with reception of him.  The Bible tells us, “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).

Maybe it is time for you and me to look at Christmas in a new light through this significant bible verse.  Think about it: God’s motive is love, God’s method is giving, and God’s miracle is eternal life.  “He who has the son has life; he who does not have the son of God does not have life” (I John 5:12). This Christmas wonder can be yours when you believe in Christ and receive him by faith.  Why not make the Christmas wonder part of your celebration this year?

Get Ready. Get Set. Give Thanks!

What if you woke up tomorrow with only the things in your possession that you thanked God for today?  If that were the case, what might you have to enjoy or share?  If you are honest with yourself, most likely you could count on one hand what you thanked God for yesterday and probably have some fingers left.  By human nature we are an ungrateful people.  We so easily fall into the rut of thinking that things will be much the same today as they were yesterday, so we get in the “lean back and relax” mode.  If it were not for the grace of God, we would be woefully lacking in many of the necessities of life.

Usually, the Thanksgiving season is the time of year when people express thanks in some manner.  It is good for us to give thanks.  The Bible helps express this importance when the Apostle Paul instructs people to give thanks.  Notice that along with thankfulness, joyfulness and prayer are also included.  He says, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (I Thessalonians 5:16-18).   In another place he says, “Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything” (Ephesians 5:20).  Look carefully at the qualifications for these three activities.

1)      Joyfulness is to constantly be a part of our lives

2)      Prayer should be made repeatedly

3)      Thanksgiving should be expressed in all situations

According to these verses the giving of thanks is not to be reserved for just one season of the year.  Thanks to God ought to overflow from our hearts and be expressed from our lips every day of the year.  Here are three questions to ask yourself as you work your way through the Thanksgiving season.

 1) Am I joyful always?

2) Do I Pray continually?

3) Do I Give thanks in all circumstances?

Giving thanks should be a daily activity.  Let’s make sure that the fruit of our lips express thanks to God and the actions of our hands and feet show our thankfulness to Him and to others.  Let’s not relegate the giving of thanks to Thanksgiving Day in November.  So, Get ready. Get set. Give thanks!  And – and give thanks again and again.