Unchanging

The lights are up, the tree is decorated, and the cookie baking has begun.

Christmas is here.

But times have changed since I was eight and groaned at the clothes I received.

The top thing on my Christmas list this year was clothes. How dull…and yet amazing.

Our mindset is sure to change about Christmas as we get older. We no longer get up at 5:00 in the morning and wake up our parents to unwrap gifts. Instead, we sleep until 10, walk lazily downstairs, and try to stay awake as the gift-giving process plays out. We probably don’t put out delicious goodies for Santa on Christmas Eve like we did a while back (or last year 🙂 ). We smile at the money we receive which we used to toss aside. Now, gas money and a college education are in mind when we see money in a Christmas card. We used to be unsatisfied with money as a Christmas present, but now we’re thankful for it.

Have we become Scrooges—grumpy and lonely souls—around this “wonderful time of year?” Maybe we’ve become just apathetic towards this supposedly magical

The truth is that Christmas is still Christmas, and we still need to celebrate for the right reasons. That fact has never changed. Jesus came to earth as a baby to save us from our sins. Nothing has changed there.

The manger was uncomfortable. The stable was lonely. The mother was afraid.

The father was unsure.

But Jesus was here. He was finally here. And He brought peace. He gave us Christmas.

On Christmas, unimaginable joy was sent to earth. This unimaginable joy was Jesus. He wants to be our joy and our hope and our peace. That will never change.

God’s plan for Christmas never changed. Not even Israel’s unfaithfulness could make Him change His mind about sending a Redeemer to help the lost. Jesus was chosen to be our Savior.

And so the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;  for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:10-11 NASB)

The good news of Jesus will never change. 

Share the message. Share the peace. Share the unchanging joy that Christmas brings because our wonderful Savior was sent to earth.

Merry Christmas.