I love Christmas; I always have. My mother did everything she could to make sure Christmas was special for my brother and me when we were children. The tree, the presents, the food, the cookies, and all the traditions that went along with Christmas were my favorite. But I love Christmas in an even deeper way as an adult.
One of my earliest spiritual thoughts that I can remember was when I left church one Christmas Eve. I was excited to go home for our special dinner and presents when it suddenly occurred to me that Christmas is about so much more: The wonder of Christ coming to earth to save us and a people walking in darkness, waiting for the Messiah, who saw a great light. That was the best gift they could have been given 2000 years ago and it’s the best gift we can be given today. Even better than a special dinner and toys and family traditions!
That love of Christmas and the depth of what it means has only grown over the many years since I was a kid and this year is no different. Just this week I was listening to a local pastor here in the United States and he paused to talk about, “the majesty of the gift of God’s word.” That caught my attention. God’s word truly is an amazing gift. God’s words to us contain the message of his love for us, the message of the forgiveness of sins, and the story of the spread of his kingdom.
I want to grow in my understanding of this incredible gift and help others understand it, too. I’m thankful to be a part of Thirdmill and the Institute as we seek to teach people all over the world about the gift of God’s word. Thirdmill held conferences all over the world this year: from Dallas to Africa to Siberia, and church leaders everywhere are hungry to know God’s word better. God’s word is such a gift, just as Jesus was such a gift on Christmas so many years ago. I count it a deep blessing to be part of helping the world understand that gift.
May you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!