Galatians 4:4 – But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law. (NKJV)

As I was remembering past Christmases, an incident came to mind from the very first year of my former ministry here in Mission, British Columbia, Canada, back in 1987.

Enthusiasm was high in the congregation, and they decided to tackle the project of putting a float in the Christmas Candlelight Parade, which happens on the first Friday of December. We worked very hard to portray a traditional nativity scene on a flat-bed trailer, complete with people playing shepherds, angels, wise men, and Mary and Joseph. The trailer was towed down to the parade route, and all the participants were standing around, bundled up against the cold, when I noticed that there was nothing representing the Baby Jesus lying in the manger. No-one had planned for that. After a quick consultation, someone was sent to fetch an appropriately-sized doll.

That incident sticks out in my memory as a prime example of how, in all the preparations that we make for Christmas, we can completely forget about Jesus and the fact that it is His birth that we are celebrating. With school Christmas concerts, shopping, baking, writing cards, decorating, mailing parcels, more shopping, wrapping, and entertaining, it's so easy to miss the point. Fortunately, there are now radio stations that run Christmas music all through December. Recently, as I was driving along, the radio was playing, "Christ is the Lord! Oh praise His name forever!" And I thought, Yes, no matter what happens in this world, no matter what people say or think, Christ is still the Lord, and always will be. Even when things don't go the way we had hoped, or the way we think they should, "Christ is the Lord!"

May God shower you with all His richest blessings as we remember the birth of our Saviour Jesus and the peace that He came to bring.

Prayer: Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You are still the Lord of all creation, whether we or anyone else is actually mindful of that fact. May we be continually reminded of Your lordship, and may our minds and lips continually resound with songs of praise to Your holy name. Oh praise Your name forever! Amen.

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About the author:

Robin Ross <rross@telus.net>
Mission, British Columbia, Canada
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