Matthew 1:22-23 (NIV)
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said
through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and
they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
Evangelist Luis Palau tells of a wealthy European family
that decided to have their newborn baby baptized in their enormous mansion.
Dozens of guests were invited to the elaborate affair, and they all arrived
dressed to the nines. After depositing their elegant wraps on a bed in an
upstairs room, the guests were entertained royally.
Soon the time came for the main purpose of their
gathering: the infant's baptismal ceremony. But where was the baby? No one seemed
to know.
The child's governess ran upstairs and returned with a
desperate look on her face. Everyone searched frantically for the baby. Then
someone recalled having seen him asleep on one of the beds. The baby was on a
bed all right-buried beneath a pile of coats, jackets, and furs. The object of
that day's celebration had been forgotten, neglected, and nearly smothered.
The baby whose birthday we celebrate at Christmas is
easily hidden beneath the piles of traditions and cultural observances of the season.
We need to enter every Advent season asking, "Where's the baby?"
Christ left His home in glory to be with us.
Dear Lord, we thank You for this Christmas season. We pray that we would keep You at the center
of Christmas and not get You lost in the hustle and bustle of the traditions.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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