When We Encounter the Child
Christmas is coming!
- The calendar proclaims it so.
- The world waits in anticipation.
- The tree is decorated.
- The star perches on top.
- The carolers harmonize.
- The children rehearse their lines.
- The presents are wrapped and placed underneath.
As I write, the house is quietly dark. All lights remain off except the lights from the tree. Each morning as I make my way down the hallway, I walk through darkness, careful to not disturb those who remain asleep. Then, I reach the living room, and even in dark, I still sense there is a presence of ‘something’ different, a presence in the room that was not there before this season.
Maybe what I will miss most when Christmas is over is not the gifts surrounding the base of the tree.
Nor will I miss the hand-quilted tree skirt Rebecca made for me years ago.
What I will miss most is the loss of the morning light shining forth from the Christmas tree.
- If you were here with me, then you would see my much-used, artificial tree that sits near the favorite blue glider.
- If you could step into my living room, you would see how I re-arranged the living room furniture to make room.
- If you were present with me, then you would see that other than placing the Christmas tree directly in the middle of the living room floor, the presence of Christmas interrupts our home.
Maybe that was our Savior’s intent.
Maybe that was God’s plan all along.
Could it be that the message we are not to miss is simply this?
—When We Encounter the Child—
We Cannot Remain ‘UNTOUCHED.’
“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
(The Gospel According to John 1: 14 NASB)
Not created but always was since the beginning.
Not made but always present since the beginning.
Not born but always three in One: Father, Son, Holy Spirit.
- When we encounter Jesus—
- When we encounter the Messiah—
- When we encounter the Savior—
We Are Touched from the Inside Out & Our lives cannot return to the way they once were.
“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
(The Gospel According to Matthew 2: 1-12 NASB)
“Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?
For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”
When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where
the Messiah was to be born.
They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet:
‘AND YOU, BETHLEHEM, LAND OF JUDAH,
ARE BY NO MEANS LEAST AMONG THE LEADERS OF JUDAH;
FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME FORTH A RULER
WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.’ “
Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared.
And he sent them to Bethlehem and said,
‘Go and search carefully for the Child;
and when you have found Him,
report to me, so that I too may
come and worship Him.’
After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was.
When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother;
and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him.
Then opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.”
- Are you ready to seek the One who changes us?
- Are you ready to find eternal rest?
- Are you prepared to be fully restored?
- Are you expectant of the great peace?
The gift of the magi came—
The gift of God came—
The gift of the Child came—
No matter where we are in life & Despite what we have been doing—
We must all be ready to worship HIM, the Child!
—When We Encounter the Child—
We Cannot Remain ‘UNTOUCHED.’