“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you.
I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful.”
Into Our Midst . . .
With lights twinkling and sleigh bells jingling, the sights and sounds of Christmas are here.
It’s a special time of year. Trees sparkle in living room corners. Garlands glisten across fireplace mantles. Candles flicker on Advent wreaths.
Most Christmas traditions include gift-giving of some sort too. Perhaps your family opens presents on Christmas Eve. Or maybe your family waits until Christmas morning.
Our traditions may vary, but we enjoy giving gifts to our loved ones because it’s a way of remembering the greatest Gift ever given to us — Jesus Christ, wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.
Jesus came. He came to give us joy and hope and peace.
Best of all, He came to give us eternal life in His presence. Jesus doesn’t give as the world gives either. His gifts can never be returned to a store. They can’t ever be taken back.
God’s gifts are eternal because He is eternal.
He is our joy.
He is our hope.
He is our peace.
As we enter this Christmas season — undoubtedly with lots of things on our to-do lists — let’s remember to invite the Giver into our midst, each and every moment.
For He is the reason we celebrate. Because He is Who we celebrate.