Open Before Christmas!  

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In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  And the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it.

 

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.  This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.  He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.  That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.

 

He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.  He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.  But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

 

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

 

John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ ”

 

And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.  For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.  No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.  -  John 1:1-18

 

Many people spend the month of December buying, wrapping, decorating, and preparing for the festivities of the holidays but are not ready for a transforming Christmas, nor free to experience its real impact for all of life.

 

My greatest concern is that it won’t make any difference, that we will go back to the same old life, the same people as we were when it all began. It's possible to celebrate Christmas and miss Christmas!

 

Imagine a time around the Christmas tree in which you opened all your presents except those from one particular person. Feel the hurt of that rejection.
 

Look at it from God's point of view. What do you think He wants to give you?  Picture Him waiting for you to open and enjoy His gift.

 

I can remember when I was a boy how my mounting excitement in the days before Christmas was heightened by any present marked "Do not open until Christmas!" When I thought no one was watching, I would crawl under the Christmas tree, squeeze and shake the carefully wrapped presents, and imagine that what was inside was my heart's desire. Then, on Christmas Eve, I would go to bed to dream with excitement about what I was sure I would find the next morning when I opened my presents.

 

The gift I want to share with you during the days leading up to Christmas is marked a bit differently. The tag has your name on it. It says, "To be opened in preparation for Christmas and enjoyed all through the year!" The heart of Christmas is the heart. God's heart in Christ offered to you and me. The most tragic thing which could happen is to go through the Christmas season and never open and accept the gifts of love, joy, hope, and peace which flow from His heart to ours!

 

I plan to have a heart-to-heart Christmas this year!

 

 

 

 

The devotional message, “Open Before Christmas!”, was written by the late Dr. Lloyd John Ogilvie, and was taken from his book, “God’s Best For My Life”, page 358.  Used with permission from Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, OR, www.harvesthousepublishers.com.