Emmanuel #13 Awe and Wonder
The past month my husband and I battle viruses on and off. The days we had fever or felt the worse were the days were were supposed to be attending something festive. Instead, we ended up laying low, listening to Christmas carols by the tree, praying, listening to sermons and devotionals and yes, watching a few Hallmark Christmas movies.
One night we tuned into the Great American Family Christmas channel and it was SOOOO refreshing. The story line was filled with scripture, the gospel being shared, and how faith sees us through grief. I kept looking at my husband saying, "This is amazing!" How sad though that I was shocked and awed to see this on television.
Have you ever thought how few people were awed by the birth of Christ?
Ruth Chou Simons wrote, "It was unspectacular to any unsuspecting on looker; but to those who knew what God had done, it was a miracle....The first to celebrate the birth of Jesus were compelled to do so and worship with their treasures, their time, their hearts, and their praise."
Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him! For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. Psalm 33:8-9
I'm under huge conviction right now. Our church has decided to have a Christmas Eve service and a Christmas day service, at which my husband will be preaching. When I learned this I said, "If we go to church we will miss seeing the children open their presents." Whoa! Forgive me Lord. Time for a heart check when the preference is presents being opened and eating breakfast with family over going to the house of the Lord and praising Him and listening to the Word preached on Christmas Day.
Simons says, "The true miracle of Christmas isn't simply the virgin birth; it's much greater than even such an impossibility. No, the miracle of Christmas is in this: that a holy God made a way for all who believe to come to Him...by first coming to us. Let that sink in."
The Song
"Mercy in a Manger" by Evan Craft
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wsVzr9pN-E
