December 24: The Baby
It’s Christmas Eve.
Today, people everywhere are gathering around fireplaces with their families, maybe opening some early gifts, attending evening church services, and eating lots of carbs. We’re prepping our cute PJs and eagerly awaiting another Christmas morning, hoping our mom got us the new phone case we’re hoping for.
It was even more magical when we were kids. Do you remember the excitement of Christmas Eve? So many of us stayed up late in the night, hoping to catch Santa in the act. We wondered what would fill our stockings and if the reindeer would eat the carrots we left out. Perhaps that youthful joy has mostly gone, but we sometimes still get those butterflies in our tummies as we anticipate the holiday to come.
But, have you ever found yourself celebrating Christmas without even thinking of Jesus?
Logically, it seems so silly to neglect Jesus on His birthday. He’s the reason for the season, right? But so much of the holiday we’ve built up as a society over the years–though good and fun and wonderful–has the ability to distract us from the very reason we celebrate Christmas in the first place.
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6
Christmas, when you peer through all the glitter and gifts and food, is all about a baby. It’s the day we celebrate the gift of Jesus Christ, the child who was born and the son who was given to us. It’s about the baby boy in a manger who would grow to be a man who did miracles and a man who sacrificed His life as a ransom for many. It’s about a baby who is the Son of God; the one who is fully God, fully man, and eternally sitting at the right hand of the Father in victory. That baby is the reason we celebrate, especially on Christmas but also every single day of our lives.
So we have a challenge for you today, one that might seem easy but always ends up tough to embrace. Today, think about Jesus. As you go throughout your day and celebrate and engage in beautiful family traditions, consider the baby in the manger. Meditate on the Scripture you might know by heart that tells the story of His wondrous birth. As you walk from your room to the kitchen, thank God for sending His only son. As you open up a gift, remember the greatest gift of all. As you lay down to sleep, pray to a Savior who hears you, thanks for a miracle that began in a stable.
We want Jesus on our minds today! Join us.
Pray: Jesus, help me to set my eyes on you today.
Further Study: We believe in the power of praying Scripture out loud! Find Isaiah 9:6-7 in your Bible and read it aloud throughout the day. Let God’s Word wash over you!
Interact: We love how Christian community can hold us accountable in keeping our eyes on Christ! Share below how you plan on keeping your mind on Jesus throughout your day and allow the Delight community to come around you and support you as you take this challenge.
