gifts and glory.

I am a total Christmas fanatic.  Of course, I believe very strongly in the importance of saving my celebration until after Thanksgiving has come, but as soon as it passes, I am all in.  I attempt to create as much Christmas whimsy in my life as possible, with snowflakes hanging from my ceiling, trips to see twinkling lights all over town, cheerful Christmas tunes on repeat, and as many Christmas cookie parties as I can handle.

I love taking a break from classes, spending time with my family, and seeing old friends.  I love gift giving and receiving.  I love Christmas eve candlelit services.  I love good food and good naps on Christmas day.  I love it all.

But I've been reminded through faithful preaching of the Word this season that there's something a little somber and  deeply significant about this time, too.  The truth I've been glossing over a bit: that Christmas means first remembering that you and I have a deep-seated need for Christ.  That he came because God knew we'd be eternally hopeless and helpless without him and loved us enough to make a way to himself.  That ultimately, this Savior who came into the world also died for the sins of the world.  My sin and yours.

God is good to have given us the gift of his Son.  And I ought to let my desperate need for Christ shake me a little bit more.  Humility and true worship ought to arise from the recognition that without Jesus, I'd be lost.

These truths are simple, and I think that's why it's easy for us to forget, misplace, or ignore.  But there is nothing more worthy of celebration, no one more worthy of our love, obedience and attention, no gift more glorious or life-giving.

I am prone to distraction, celebrating lesser goods and gifts, but Christ is on my mind tonight.  My great need for him, his sufficiency to live blamelessly and cover my sin with his death, the riches of his love, the depths of his grace.

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth... For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace."

(John 1:14,16)