Christian Reflection and Prayer

By Rev. Wayne Palmer

Scritpture:

Read John 1:6-8.

There was a man sent from God,
whose name was John. ... He was
not the light, but came to bear
witness about the light. (John 1:6, 8)

Reflection:

Have you ever taken a close look at
a manger scene? There are a bunch
of figures all gathered together: Mary
and Joseph, the shepherds and the
wise men, perhaps even some sheep,
camels and a donkey. Usually they
aren't placed in little groups talking
among themselves. Instead, they're
focused on that Baby whose birth
brought them all together in that place.

What if you were one of the characters
in that manger scene this Christmas?
Would you be focused on the Christ
Child like the others, or would your
attention be somewhere else? Would
you be gazing out to the side, staring
at the Christmas tree and all the
presents lying under it? Would you be
scanning the kitchen and dining room
thinking about Christmas dinner?
Would you be staring into the family
room where friends are gathered for
a Christmas party?

All those things are great parts of
Christmas, but only one thing belongs
in the center as the focus of our
Christmas celebrations. That is God's
Son, born on Christmas day. The
mighty God became one of us and
came into our world to share our life,
to suffer and die in our place, and to
rise to life again to guarantee our eternal
future.

His birth brings joy, hope, comfort and
peace to all our Christmas celebrations.
He is always with us to provide our needs
and protect us from all harm until the Last
Day when He will come in glory to bring
us to our everlasting home.

PRAYER:

Son of God, Christmas holds so many
distractions. Please focus my mind and
heart on Your birth so every part of my
Christmas celebration will be more
meaningful. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)

The parents of three grown children would
divide their Christmases among their children’s
families. But with the difficulties involved in
holiday preparation and extensive travel,
sometimes they were tempted to throw up their
hands and say, “It’s too much! It’s just not
worth the effort.” Whenever either of the parents
got that feeling of exasperation, they would give
the other a wink and say, “Long walk, dear, long
walk,” and they would laugh and get back to
work.” “Long walk” was one of their code signals.
They began using it years ago earlier after
reading a story about an African boy who gave
his missionary teacher an exquisite seashell as
a Christmas gift. The lad had walked miles for it,
to a special bay, the only place where such
shells were found. “How wonderful of you to have
traveled so far for this present,” said the teacher.
The boy’s eyes shone as he replied, “Long walk
part of gift.”

Scripture:

Read Mark 11:1-7.

... "The Lord has need of it ...."
 (Mark 11:3b)

Reflection:

How do you like Christmas shopping?
Are you looking forward to playing
"chicken" for that elusive parking spot?
Are you excited about your chance to
push your way through the crowded
aisles? Do you get a thrill out of arm
wrestling for that last box on the shelf?

Wouldn't it be great just once to be an
important person? Imagine walking
down an aisle and watching people
step aside to let you pass, or standing
in front of an empty shelf and having
someone hand you that must-have
present you want to give your kids.
Best of all, imagine everyone motioning
you to the front of the line at the checkout!

On that first Christmas when God chose
to send His Son into our world as a tiny
baby, we might have expected Him to
choose an important family. Perhaps it
would be the Jewish high priest, the ruler
of the Jews, or even the Roman Emperor
himself. Instead, the most important
person ever born lived as the obscure
Son of Joseph and Mary-two very
ordinary and unimportant parents.

That's how Christmas can transform us.
God's only Son became unimportant in
the world's eyes to make you and me
important in God's eyes. He credits His
perfect life to us as if we were the perfect
ones. Then He took all our failures, faults
and sins on Himself and suffered and died
in our place on the cross to free us from
God's wrath.

The hustle and bustle of Christmas
shopping may make you feel unimportant,
but this Christmas the birth of the Christ
Child shows just how important you are
to God.

PRAYER:

 Lord, thank You for becoming unimportant
in the world's eyes to make me important
in God's eyes. Transform my view of You
and of myself this Christmas. Amen.

(Lutheran Hour Ministries)