Luke 2: 11
"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord."
"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord."
Inspired by this Christmas song which I heard on TV this morning, I thought to myself,"what do I really want for this Christmas?" I've already received an iPAD to much excitement and after the initial happiness, it all wanes. So what other material stuff do I really want for Christmas that could possibly out do that? I'm guessing a car or house but do I really think that could transpire? Instead of my wants, maybe I should think of the stuff I need. But then, those are really so boring to receive as gifts.
That's often the issue with a materialistic inclined Christmas. It'll often be followed by a big post-Christmas letdown because we did not get what you had hoped for. Yet, to shamelessly state what we want, doesn't make getting the gift enjoyable. We always want to have someone present us with something we thought no one but ourselves would know.
The first Christmas was an intimate affair by the manger. It was filled with relief because the Joseph and Mary just wanted a sheltered place so their baby could be born. I'm guessing that the surprise visitors of shepherds and wise men made it more interesting for the new parents who really weren't expecting anything or anyone. After all, who did they know having gone up from the town of Nazareth to Bethlehem?
Well, even though I have expensive or thoughtful stuff that I don't mind getting, all I want this Christmas is to enjoy an intimate time of farewell with the youths that I've been with for most Saturdays of the last three years. I don't need any gifts but I just want to spend whatever moment I have in the church to saying my farewell and remind each of them to live their lives well. Christmas exists because God cared so much that He gave his one and only son just to redeem each of them and all I want for Christmas is for them to know that.
