Wrapped in Love

 Wrapped In Love

”He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.” Luke 1:32-33

Christmas is so much more than we give it credit for. The commercialized version that is. The one that you can’t turn away from the ads and the list keeps running through our mind of what to buy and how much to spend. I know the enemy loves this time of year because we get so distracted. But what a great time to distract us. We know how it ends and we are living in the here and now knowing that Jesus is still making all things new. Even as we go about and sometimes can’t say, “Merry Christmas” for offending some, it won't change that His kingdom will never end. That is you and me living as the hands and feet as Jesus in a world that needs to know the love of God.

Last December I got to participate in a Christmas event for a prison ministry. It was for the residents that had family and they wrapped gifts, ate food, and just gathered with their families celebrating Christmas together. I recently heard from another woman who got to serve at a prison doing this same thing this year. She commented about how when she was there that some residents didn’t have family that showed up. But as she watched the other residents moved in to invite them to participate with their families. I thought that was sad but at the same time they got an opportunity to experience the love of God in a way that was an extension of others. She talked about how serving at “Christmas Miracle” , the name given to the event, had changed her heart. Because that is what happens. Going into places that people feel forgotten or that they have gone too far has an unexplainable draw. I told the lady that shared her recent prison experience it is like something that you can’t shake off. Going places that people don’t know God and being around them leaves something on you. “You can’t shake it off” is what I told her. She said, that is probably because we are not supposed to. 

“Therefore,  as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another if anyone has a grievance against another, Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive.” Colossians 3:12-13

When we clothe ourselves with the mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience of Christ it is Him who is on display. That is what is contagious and spreads and makes other people want to know Christ. 

What would happen if we were wrapped in His Compassion, Kindness, Humility, Gentleness, and Patience when we walked around our homes, workplaces, stores, everywhere we went? What does that leave behind? 

Maybe it would leave something they couldn’t shake off. Something that would draw them to want more. Something they couldn’t dismiss. Something they couldn’t explain only that they needed to know more.

Father,

Forgive us of when we want to judge. Judgemental hearts keep us from seeing things through your eyes that love those that don’t know you. Your Son was so that we would know how to love others and extend your love to this world. We are your Chosen and Beloved. You wrapped yourself in Power in humanity when you came at the birth of Christ. Thank you isn’t enough let our lives be one refrain giving it all to you Jesus. You are the Christmas Miracle.

Amen