December Devotionals -- December 1

BEGINNINGS                                                                            December 1, 2015

I flipped over the calendar page to the month of December this morning, and it made me tired.  It’s December 1.  The beginning of the Christmas season.  Parties to go to, gifts to buy, presents to wrap, cookies to bake, decorations to hang, cards to send, family pictures to take, trees to decorate, etc. etc. etc.  It’s very easy to get overwhelmed by all the “busyness” of this season.  But how about we go back to the beginning.  Not the stable… not yet.  We’ll get there soon.  Go ALL the way back to the very beginning.

Genesis 1:1 -- In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

That’s a very familiar verse of Scripture, but what does that have to do with Christmas? 

That’s actually the first time we see Jesus in action. 

John 1:1-2 KJV and NLT -- In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… He existed in the beginning with God.

Jesus was there at creation too!  Jesus was part of the entire creation event… He helped form the moon, the stars, the sky.  He helped create the majestic elephant, the tiny ant, and the beautiful butterfly.  And He was there when we were formed!  God is talking to Jesus and the Holy Spirit when He said in Genesis 1:26, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us.”   

Yeah, but that was Adam and Eve… not me. 

Well how about this verse in Ephesians 1:4 AMP that says “[in His love] He chose us in Christ [actually selected us for Himself as His own] before the foundation of the world.”  

What?  I’ve been chosen since the foundation of the world?  Why? 

Read the rest of the verse.  It says, “so that we would be holy [that is, consecrated, set apart for Him, purpose-driven] and blameless in His sight. In love ⁵ He predestined and lovingly planned for us to be adopted to Himself as [His own] children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the kind intention and good pleasure of His will.”

At the foundation of the world, where Jesus was present, God chose YOU to be adopted as His child.  Jesus made a way for that to happen. 

THAT’S the purpose of the Christmas season.  Since the very foundation of the earth, God has wanted to have a relationship with you.  Not a domineering, overbearing, “you-must-worship-me-or-else” kind of relationship.  No.  One of a good, good father to his beloved child.  He wants to be your daddy. 

But because sin entered the world when Adam and Eve disobeyed God, that opportunity for relationship was taken away.  Until Jesus.  Until Jesus came to the earth as a little tiny baby.  A baby that was destined to grow up and die on a cruel cross.  To pay the price for our sin, so that we could be reconciled with God.  So once again, we would have the opportunity to have a close loving relationship with God. 

So as you go about all the busyness of the season, remember the beginning.  Remember that in the beginning, Jesus saw you.  Jesus knew He would make a way for the Father to have a relationship with you.  He was willing to do whatever it took to make that happen.  And He did.  Will you do your part?

Prayer for today:

Father God, thank You that You have known me since the foundation of the world, and that You have always wanted to have a close relationship with me.  Thank you, Jesus, for making a way for that to happen!  As we celebrate the season of Your birth, please help me remember the real reason for the season.  Help me to spend time with You each day, growing in my relationship with You, loving You more and letting You love me more.  And help me to share this amazing love with others.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen