Every Christmas there comes a moment when I'm swept up into the glorious joy of God's Gift of Jesus. It always surprises me. Whether prompted by reading 'Two From Galilee' by Marjorie Holmes or 'Skipping Christmas' by John Grisham, I have to start early because I'll be preaching Christmas pretty quickly. I read the first two chapters of Luke and envision both Dr. Luke and Mary putting their heads together to give us the most important things, things that will inspire us. And all in all it always is the Scripture that sparks the Holy Spirit to touch my heart with gratitude and love.
This year God's been in my dreams too. God let's his plans be known sometimes through dreams. God spoke to Mary's Joseph in a dream. '...an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the Child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son, and you are to name him Jesus, for He will save his people from their sins.' (Matthew 1:20-21) For, before Joseph went to sleep that night he had resolved to skip Christmas, to stop his engagement to Mary and let her go quietly on her way. Joseph did not understand that he would have a very important role in the first Christmas. Now he does.
So the important question here is: Do we understand our important role in Christmas for someone else? For a friend, a family member, a child, or a stranger? I believe the surprise of Christmas is contagious-- that one person can spark another person into Christmas gratitude, and that our joy influences others because they hear it in our voice, laughter, compassion, and giving. The Lord only knows how many folks almost skip Christmas. And that is why He uses you this season. Uses you to show and tell others the Reason (Jesus) for the season.
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