Christmas 2024
A Message for Christmas
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
–John 1:1-5, 10-14 NKJV
As I write this, I look around my humble home, realizing it’s Christmas, and I’ve done absolutely nothing to decorate for the season – nothing. Zero. Zilch.
It’s like, Christmas snuck up on me and said, “Hey, Chaplain, here I am!”
And, I confess, I’m unprepared – that’s not like me.
In years past, at the least, I’ve put lights in my windows. Or, strung lights from one side of my porch to the other – in some special design fashion. We’ve had a Christmas tree in the corner of the living room, stockings hung on the wall, Christmas cards strung up one side of the doorway and down the other. Mom would do some baking, and we’d have the “smells” of Christmas throughout the house. And, music! We’d be singing carols and have music playing.
But, none of that this year.
And, as I sit here, I think about that first Christmas.
All throughout the Old Testament, prophets prophesied about the coming Messiah. For centuries, they waited in anticipation of His arrival. Then, suddenly, He was here. Born in Bethlehem, laid in a manger – because there was no room for Him in the Inn.
As John wrote, the “Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us”.
Ready or not, here He is!
On that first Christmas morning – roughly, 2,029 years ago.
And, there’s nothing we need to do except … receive Him.
Merry Christmas!
A Prayer for Christmas
Merciful and loving God, thank You! Thank You for Your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank You for that amazing first Christmas morning when You came into our world – a world that did not recognize You. A world that did not receive You. Still, You came. Just as the prophets said You would. Your light has shone, and continues to shine, in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. And, I receive Your light, and You, into my life. On this Christmas morning, I pray You would come into my life and be with me always. Let Your light shine to me, in me and through me into this dark world in which we live. Lord Jesus, come. Amen.
