NOT JUST A FAIRYTALE
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire.
Luke 2:1 NLT
TODAY’S THOUGHT
One author wrote, “Christmas is the season of stuff that didn’t actually happen.” Think about this for a moment. We have a magical snowman with a button nose; A bullied reindeer with a heartwarming story of acceptance; A mischievous elf who delights children and exhausts parents throughout the holidays; and a fat guy in a red suit who magically travels across the entire globe to every home in a few hours to drop off gifts. This is only a few of the events that did not happen. For those of us who are followers of Christ our Christmas is different. We believe the Bible and therefore we believe the Christmas story is not about snowmen, reindeer, elves, or Santa. We join with Dr. Luke who recorded the longest version of the Christmas story and starts with the phrase, “At that time.” This opening phrase is important because in the original Greek it could be translated, “It happened in those days…” Dr. Luke uses this phrase five times in the first twenty verses of chapter two. It is like he is emphasizing the fact that the birth of Jesus in a stable is an event that happened in a specific place to specific people. The birth of Jesus is not just another fairytale in Christmas lore. There is a real Jesus. Rudolph and Frosty will not help you through cancer, grief, loss, addiction, and fractured relationships. Santa can’t forgive us of our sins. But Jesus can forgive us, and He does. Jesus can be with us through our pain, loneliness, disappointments, struggles, confusion, and frustrations. Christmas is about God coming to earth to live with us in our good times, bad times, and all the in between times.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Lord Jesus, thanks for coming into my life. Thanks for being born as a baby to transform me into Your image. Thanks for always being with me.
“Scroll down to share what you feel God is saying based on today’s reading.”