Where do you try to find joy at Christmas? In family? In friends? In parties? In gifts?
The Lord has been reminding me of something so very precious: the greatest Gift of all is God.
In the presence of God, we find all our hearts are truly craving for.
And Christmas is an amazing reminder of something truly, astoundingly incredible: God gave Himself to all who will accept Him. In such an intimate, vulnerable, beautiful way. God Who reigns on high. God Who spoke the universe into being. God Who rules in glory. As a baby. A baby. Because He is that kind; that loving; that good.
The Lord has been encouraging my heart, deeply, that we can have joy at Christmas no matter what, because joy truly comes from knowing Him.
Because the source of true joy is not in stuff or circumstances, but in knowing God.
God has given me many precious gifts in this life. This week, I finally got to hold in my hands the CD album that I’ve been yearning to make since I was a little girl (I’m planning to post a link soon). It was a dream come true… and yet it didn’t satisfy my heart completely. Nothing in this world ever does… but He does.
My heart is satisfied, because of Him.
It’s been a journey: a journey of walking with Him. A journey of discovering more and more of my beautiful, incredible, amazing God. He hasn’t always felt close, but He always has been, whether I’ve known it or not.
And, oh, He satisfies my heart!
He is there, loving us, reaching out to us.
And Christmas reminds us. God is a manger. God in a manger! God giving Himself to all who will receive Him on His terms.
The true source of joy is God Himself, and God has given Himself to me!
He is with me now!
He is with me!
He is with us.
’23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”’ Matt 1:23
The only One Who truly satisfies our desperately thirsty souls.
And He is available to us all.
God is available to us all.
He has given Himself to us all, if we will only receive Him.
The greatest gift is God with us.
And He is with you now.
(The Father gave His Son as a baby to grow up and die on a cross so that all who come to Him, turn from wrong, receive His free forgiveness and choose to follow Him as Lord can be forgiven and know Him forever. It’s the way of rescue from eternal Hell and the way to eternal life… and it’s the way to the greatest, most satisfying, most wonderful Gift of all: the gift of God Himself with you… close to you… forever. He is with you now, reaching out to you in love).
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Caroline Abblitt 