Merry Christmas in Jesus Name,
Karen and I wish you all the warmest of Christmas greetings. Our prayer is that the true meaning of Christmas and the overwhelming love of God will be in your midst. I would also like to extend Christmas greetings to each of you from the leadership and staff of Newsong Church.
"The Weight of Christmas"
Can you remember with me the time that you put the most thought and heart into a gift for someone? You spent the time in preparation, and you saved up a significant amount of money. Your effort in looking into their heart and needs was at an all-time high. This was the most precious gift that you could give. You were truly focused upon the person that you were giving the gift to. It was a total giving effort on your part. This was nothing casual. It was a once in a lifetime experience. Epic. Life Changing.
Your anticipation was high when the time came to present the gift. The moments crept along and then and only then at the precise moment, you burst onto the scene with your well-planned gift that was perfect for them. Your excitement could not be contained and your love for them was somehow totally bound in this expression of your love and concern for them. That gift was the simple expression of all those things for them.
Somewhere in this process along the way you realized that this was the best that you could do; you had given it your all. You had given your very best. Your very best was there for them to accept or deny. You had literally laid out your heart for them. They could accept you or reject you.
Can you relate to this scenario? Has this ever happened to you? You really put yourself out there!
Can you relate with the heart of God? If you and I can relate to this scenario then we can begin to relate to the heart of God when he sent His absolute best gift for us to earth as a child 2000 years ago. We call it Christmas; He calls it the bursting forth of His heart in the perfect and total expression of love and passion for His children on earth.
We treat it like an annual party and a reason to celebrate but He considered it the most significant moment in the entirety of mankind. This was the day that God sent us the perfect gift. Jesus was, is and will always be exactly what we need. He is the fullness. There is nothing that we need past Jesus. The gift cannot get any better. Cannot. God laid it all out there for us when Jesus was born of the virgin Mary in the stable in Bethlehem.
According to Romans 8:19, "For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed." That means that God is still awaiting to see if you and I will accept the gift or deny the gift.
Can you imagine if you put everything into a gift and it was rejected or set aside? Remember the scenario? Would your heart be hurt or blessed?
This Christmas season may we remember the weight of Christmas. It is His love for us!
In Him,
Pastor Marty Dyer
