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You may have heard the Christmas story thousands of times before, but do you believe it? Have you embraced it as reality and truth? Or have you filed it away under Christmas fantasy along with magical bags of toys and elves?
The true Christmas story, the one that I have chosen to weave as truth into the fabric of my life, is the story of a girl who was ordinary, young and unqualified. God chose to place Himself inside her womb so that you and I could, one day, carry His presence inside of our lives as well.
God, the Father, the Creator of the Universe, the Instigator of everything glorious and miraculous, chose you and me as the vehicle through which our generation would receive its greatest gift. It is our miracle that we have been called to demonstrate Jesus to the world in which we live.
The world will only experience the joy of His birth to the extent that I exhibit joy. The world will only taste the peace of His coming to the extent that I reveal His peace. The world will only know the hope of Christmas when I respond to pain and disappointment as a hopeful believer. The world will see the Light of the world when I allow my life to become a shining beacon to humanity.
Christmas was not all about Mary ... or Joseph ... or Elizabeth and Zacharias ... or shepherds and Magi. Christmas is all about you! It is about making yourself available at this time in history to reveal the presence and love of our Savior. You are the present that today God is choosing to give to your world. Your generation is desperate for the glory of a Savior. Without you, they may never know His name or the purpose of His coming.
As you now contemplate New Year’s resolutions and plans that will encompass the 365 days to come, will you recommit yourself to be used by God? Will you decide this Christmas day to allow God to use your life as the manger upon which the Savior of the world may be found?
Joy! To Your World! Jesus has been born in you. God is looking for believers who will be bold enough and joyful enough to embrace the miracle of Christmas, not just one day a year, but every day of every season.
The true Christmas story, the one that I have chosen to weave as truth into the fabric of my life, is the story of a girl who was ordinary, young and unqualified. God chose to place Himself inside her womb so that you and I could, one day, carry His presence inside of our lives as well.
God, the Father, the Creator of the Universe, the Instigator of everything glorious and miraculous, chose you and me as the vehicle through which our generation would receive its greatest gift. It is our miracle that we have been called to demonstrate Jesus to the world in which we live.
The world will only experience the joy of His birth to the extent that I exhibit joy. The world will only taste the peace of His coming to the extent that I reveal His peace. The world will only know the hope of Christmas when I respond to pain and disappointment as a hopeful believer. The world will see the Light of the world when I allow my life to become a shining beacon to humanity.
Christmas was not all about Mary ... or Joseph ... or Elizabeth and Zacharias ... or shepherds and Magi. Christmas is all about you! It is about making yourself available at this time in history to reveal the presence and love of our Savior. You are the present that today God is choosing to give to your world. Your generation is desperate for the glory of a Savior. Without you, they may never know His name or the purpose of His coming.
As you now contemplate New Year’s resolutions and plans that will encompass the 365 days to come, will you recommit yourself to be used by God? Will you decide this Christmas day to allow God to use your life as the manger upon which the Savior of the world may be found?
Joy! To Your World! Jesus has been born in you. God is looking for believers who will be bold enough and joyful enough to embrace the miracle of Christmas, not just one day a year, but every day of every season.
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About this Plan
Christmas is a time when we should all expect heaven’s entrance into our dusty, dirty worlds. Christmas is a time that reminds us all that miracles really do happen, prayers are actually answered and that heaven is just one response away. Through the experiences of Mary, Joseph, Zecharias and Elizabeth, the shepherd and the wise men, this devotional explores the significance of the first Christmas and how it intersects with each of our lives today.
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We would like to thank Carol McLeod and Just Joy Ministries for providing this devotional. For more information, please visit: www.justjoyministries.com
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