By: Steve Boggs

“A thrill of hope; the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn” – O Holy Night

The other day I discovered a note that was left by my wife:

Steve, I think the tensil on the tree is too fat. What do you think? Text me.

I’ve since gone to the low-calorie, diet section of Hobby Lobby to get thinner tensil for our tree (and I must admit, it does look better).

After reading that note, it made me realize that the Christmas season is now upon us.

This season is filled with hurry and worry about a lot of things, from tinsels to trees. But where is our focus?

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord” (Luke 2:11).

  Wow… What a day that must have been. The excitement of the shepherd who had been visited by the angel of the Lord who brought the good news that in the town of David a Savior had been born. I’m sure that as the shepherds shared with others what they had heard and seen, all were amazed.

Can you imagine the response of Mary in all this excitement? This was her child they were talking about! Luke 2:19 says, “But Mary treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart.” Wouldn’t you do the same?

During this Christmas season, as we spend time with our friends and family, we too will have the opportunity to treasure up and ponder things in our heart. While the memories will be great, let us remember that Jesus didn’t come just for our memories, He came for our eternity. He is our Hope

Take heart of the encouragement found in Romans 15:13, “May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

This Christmas season let us not just settle for a season of memories that will eventually fade and be forgotten. Let’s not get tied up in too much worrying about tensils and trees.

God graciously offers a living hope. The living hope of eternal life with Jesus Christ. Jesus is for eternity. May we live for Him and may His love overflow through our lives this Christmas season.

Parents: Read your children the Christmas story. Ask them how they think that the Shepherds and Mary must have felt.