December brings stresses. What is the perfect present? How do I find time to do extra cleaning and decorating? Should I make multiple kinds of cookies? And how do I afford all of that? When I think about all of the details, I have no peace.
The main reason we should celebrate Christmas is because it brings us peace. Anything that gets in the way of that peace needs to be put on the back burner. My main thoughts in December should be Jesus and His love.
Because of familiarity, it’s easy to gloss over these important facts. But don’t do that if you want to keep the peace of Christmas within your heart.
Here are 7 reasons to bow at the feet of our King this December:
1. Immanuel
When Jesus came to earth in human form, He came as Immanuel. He came to be with us. Though He was God, He chose to come to us in human form (Philippians 2:6-7). He chose to do this because He loved us.
2. A Prophecy from 700 Years Before Christ Came
Yes, seven hundred years before Jesus’ birth, Isaiah said that a virgin would conceive a child (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23). Can you guess something that will happen seven hundred years from now? I can’t either. Prophecy is a miracle.
3. A Virgin Gives Birth
Mary was engaged to Joseph and was still a virgin. She became pregnant (Matthew 1:18). It was very important that Jesus be born from both a human woman and the Holy Spirit. Humanity—so that we could relate even more to Him. Divinity—so He would stand out and be set apart.
4. Another Miraculous Birth
Mary’s cousin, Elizabeth, was married to Zechariah. Both she and her husband were way past the normal age to conceive a baby (Luke 1:6-7). An angel told Zechariah that his wife would conceive a son and they were to name him John (Luke 1:13). She did, and they did. Many years later, John would announce Jesus’ ministry and lead people to Jesus.
5. Against Normal Inclination
Joseph was engaged to Mary when she told him she was pregnant. His inclination was to be kind to her but break off the engagement quietly (Matthew 1:19). Most men would have trouble raising another man’s baby especially when his fiancée had cheated on him. At least, that’s what Joseph probably thought. God didn’t want Joseph to think badly of Mary so He sent an angel to let him know that Mary had not cheated. This was a very special baby that would be called Jesus and save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:20-21).
6. The Exact Place
Another prophecy many years before said that Bethlehem would be the birthplace of the Messiah (Micah 5:2). Joseph and Mary did not live in Bethlehem but when her pregnancy was very far along, a decree from Caesar Augustus said that everyone must return to the area where their family was from and be counted in a census (Luke 2:1-5). Joseph’s family had come from Bethlehem, the town of David, and so had Mary. So, they were in Bethlehem when birth pangs began.
7. The Miracle of Open Eyes
Saul, later called Paul, spent a long time fighting against the new way of the disciples of Christ. He loved rules, regulations, and order. This new way (the one Jesus spoke of before His crucifixion) didn’t seem to want to be trapped in the temple; it wanted to be free and effective out in the world. Saul fought this until a light from heaven flashed around him. He immediately saw Jesus who said, “I am Jesus, the one you’re persecuting.”
No one around him saw anything, although they did hear a voice from heaven. But Saul saw, heard and fell to the ground. When he got up, he was blind and stayed that way for three days.
Ananias, a disciple of Christ, had a vision that he was to go and talk to Saul of Tarsus and he was afraid, for he knew that Saul was an evil man that was persecuting Christ’s disciples. But the Lord convinced Ananias to go in spite of his fear.
When Ananias saw Saul, he placed his hands over Saul’s eyes and said, “The Lord has sent me to help you see again and not only that but you will be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes. He could see again. He got up and was baptized. (Acts 9:1-18).
In the same way, your eyes were beautifully and wonderfully opened when you believed and embraced who Jesus truly is for the first time. You once were blind but now you see!
Treasuring these seven miracles, especially the miracle of when you first saw Jesus, will help you get through the stresses of December. For He is the real gift of Christmas. The peace He brings will melt away man-made stresses.
After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often (Luke 2:17-19).
Be like Mary. Hold these things in your heart and remember them often.
Jennifer Heeren loves to write and wants to live in such a way that people are encouraged by her writing and her attitude. She loves to write devotional articles and stories that bring people hope and encouragement. Her cup is always at least half-full, even when circumstances aren’t ideal. She regularly contributes to Crosswalk. She lives near Atlanta, Georgia with her husband. Visit her at her website and/or on Facebook.
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