Everyone is making plans for Christmas. I've been asked about my plans and wished Merry Christmas from strangers at the store checkout. I've heard news reports about all the people planning to travel over the holiday and possible travel delays. Meanwhile, we get caught up in the busyness of the season, the preparation, the anticipation, and the excitement.
Christmas is when we celebrate the time when Jesus was born. We retell the Bible story from Luke, we watch the Christmas movies, and enjoy songs such as O Holy Night and Away in a Manger. I love those songs so much!
While I was thinking about all of this, I also considered the year of 2024. At the end of December we often take time to think about our year in review. This year is not one I would care to relive as it has been quite difficult. I won't go into personal details here, but suffice it to say it has been a very challenging year.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed,
because his compassions fail not.
Lamentations 3:22
So back to that question Is Your Jesus Still in a Manger? I was thinking about this in context of the difficulties we have been through this year. If I had left baby Jesus in that manger and the Christmas season, how would that have affected my life this year? Many years ago, I came to understand how the babe in the manger grew up to live a sinless life and he eventually gave his own life on the cross for me. The Christmas season points us to the Cross. I think one of the best pieces of music is Handel's The Messiah which does this so beautifully. Handel understood this and wrote about anticipating the coming Messiah and his eventual sacrifice.
Who is this King of Glory?
For Unto Us A Child is Born
And with his stripes we are healed
Hallelujah! for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth
How then would my life have been different this year if I did not have the whole, grown-up Jesus in my life? While I don't have a crystal ball that will tell me that, I can tell you many times this year I thought hardships would consume me. But. . . His compassions did not fail me. Sometimes those compassions were sent through the a Bible verse and other times it came through a timely phone call from a friend, an encouraging text message, or visit from family.
They (his mercies) are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
Lamentations 3:23-24
I love these verses from Lamentations because I've seen over and over how true faithful Jesus Christ is in my life. My hope is in him. Hallelujah! The Lord God is Omnipotent and he reigns now and forevermore!
