Thought of the Day !!

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

                                John 1:15 (ESV)

No manger scene.  No Mary and Joseph or shepherds and angels.  No star leading wise men or inns without room.  Simply "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us."  This is John's Christmas story.  Plain and simple.  God became man and came to us to live with us.

Mike Slaughter tells his congregation at Ginghamsburg UMC each year these words, "It's not your birthday."  I like hearing that because it reminds me that as we give our gifts to each other that we're not celebrating each other.  Or at least we shouldn't be.  Though Dec 25 is almost surely not the actual date of Jesus' birth, when the Word became flesh, it is the day that was chosen to celebrate his birthday.  Let us not forget that he is the guest of honor this season.  Let us not get so involved tomorrow and the next day with family plans and gift-giving that we forget the reason why we give.

Christmas should be about giving to Jesus.  And the best gift we can give him is the gift of our love.  Through this love for him we will love each other.  And through this love for each other we will share gifts for those we know and even those we might not know who are down and out or lonely.  Let's make sure we give to Jesus by giving to the least of these this Christmas.

In the love of Christ,

greg