December 25

Read John 1:1, 14, I Corinthians 13:12

     I apologize that this devotion may be a little lengthy, but it is Christmas and I cannot let this day go by without writing this.

     When I was a kid, Christmas was my favorite time of year. In Minnesota, in the middle of winter was the best. We would sled and skate and play snow football. My dad also grew up in Minnesota so he knew how awesome winter was. We would be off of school and dad would take a snow blower down the long hill of our driveway and then water it down so that we would just fly down on our sleds. He created a huge skating rink and kept it flooded so it would stay smooth.

     I remember all the baking that my grandma, mom and aunts would do. Invariably we smelled the aroma of Christmas wreath cookies, peanut butter with a Hershey kiss in the middle, and I will never forget the crumb cakes. I remember trying to figure out what I got for Christmas. I remember waking up on Christmas Eve knowing that we would soon be heading to grandma and grandpas for dinner and gifts (I think my mom has turned into the grandma now!). We would have a great time, and everything that was wrong in my young life seemed to fade away. I didn’t worry about math and English and all of my other school responsibilities. I remember when it was time to open gifts, the younger kids would pass out the gifts and we would tear into them. What did grandma get me?  What did my uncle Mike get me (he was just like one of the kids so we always knew it would be cool)? My mind and heart would begin to race because everything seemed perfect.

     Except one thing always bothered me, and it wasn’t just the lutefisk that my grandfather made us all try. As we were opening all of our gifts, it hit me that not all of my family and friends knew the greatest gift of all. From before the foundation of the world God was gift wrapping a plan so that we all could live eternally with Him. Throughout the Old Testament, people wanted to see God, but couldn’t because the package just wasn’t ready.  In Bethlehem, however, God opened up the greatest gift. He gave Himself.

     Imagine how Mary felt as that baby was born and she took Him in her arms. How exciting it was to see that God was beginning to reveal His gift to mankind. However, Mary and Joseph only saw a partial unwrapping of the gift that God truly designed.

     Today, people in the religious world will accept the birth of Jesus as someone that the Father sent, but when we realize that the whole atmosphere around the birth was just another layer of wrapping paper coming off in order to reveal to the world who He is. Everything about the life of Christ was simply more wrapping paper being removed from this great gift. We say today that we know Him. I ask, “Do we really?” Do you know Him beyond the scriptures? Is He so real that you have experienced Him?

 I have said all of that to say this. If God started to unwrap the gift at the beginning of time and He is not finished revealing Himself fully today, is it not safe to assume that God is still trying to reveal Himself in your life today?

     On this Christmas day, do not be satisfied with the celebration of Christ’s birth, but allow the gift to be unwrapped a little further in your spirit. Remember it is the greatest gift of all.

December 20

Read Ephesians 4:25-32

     When I served on the ministerial staff in Dover, DE, we would oftentimes open up the service for testimonies. It was at that time that everyone knew, without a doubt, that my father-in-law would stand and say, “I’m thankful for the love of God shed abroad in my heart by the Holy Ghost.” This was not a one time testimony; it was whenever we had testimonies.

     I am thankful for that testimony. Not only is it scriptural (Romans 5:5), it is very personal. That sentiment states that God was so kind to me that I cannot help but to be thankful. Aldous Huxley (1894-1963), one of the world's leading intellects, was visiting with Houston Smith, a well-known professor of philosophy and religion. As they were driving to an engagement, Huxley said, "You know, Houston, it's rather embarrassing to have spent one's entire lifetime pondering the human condition and . . . find that I really don't have anything more profound to pass on by way of advice than, 'Try to be a little kinder.'"

     The apostle Paul saw kindness in a different light. In Ephesians 4:32, he linked being kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving with the way God has treated us. In Titus 3:4, he said that it was "the kindness and the love of God" that provided eternal salvation.

     Especially at this time of season when so many people struggle to express their love and kindness, it is imperative that we do so also. However, we need to celebrate Christmas all year. In a world where callous thoughtlessness and selfish indifference are all too common, kindness can make our lives fruitful when motivated by Christ-like love. When our walk harmonizes with our words of witness, it will make a compelling impact on others by pointing them to the kind of love God has for them in Jesus Christ. If Huxley had learned what Paul had learned, he would have seen that trying to be a little kinder is one of the most profound truths of all.

     Kindness is treating others the way that God treats you. What motivates us to try? There's no better reason than, on my father-in-law’s words, the love of God as shown to us by Jesus.