Advent December 7, 2006

Oh, ring Noel,Each loud Christmas bellGod's good news is great newsall over the earth!And Christians--all sing itAs bells ring and ring it;Applaud it and laud it,this wonderful birth!Yes, ring it out, fling it out,chiming and clanging:On this joyous mornOur Redeemer is born!

Can the world celebrate something it doesn't understand?
People of this world string their Christmas lights, not fully realizing that their decorations are saying to believers, "Arise, shine, for you light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you" (Isaiah 60:1, NIV). They punch in their CDs that sing, "Oh, come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!"
Matthew 13:13,16 says, "Looking they do not see, and hearing they do not listen or understand....But your eyes are blessed because they do see, and your ears because they do hear!"
So this holiday season, don't be a Scrooge. Don't grumble over the commercialization of Christmas. Blessed are your eyes and ears that can comprehend what all this beauty really means.
Do the sights and sounds of Christmas draw your a little higher?
Drink in. Cherish it. Rejoice! And pray that some who have lived in the dark all year long will find the Light of the world in the lights of Christmas.
At this new Christmas season, worship Him. Between your ears, within your heart, where no one sees but God alone--worship Him!
Often confess your sins to Him. Often think on His characteristics. From moment to moment, as much as you're able, keep a running conversation going with your Father.
He will love it.Worship Him
As you move through the Christmas lightsand beauty, worship Him.As you write your cards, worship Him.As you trim your tree, worship Him.As you spend, be spent.As you serve others, serve Him.Let your heart keep welling up with"glory to God in the highest!"

Excerpted from:

How Great Our Joy: Family Memories and Meditations for Christmas, by Ray and Anne Ortlund

These posts are from Lifeways Advent season.