Merry Christmas, friend; I’m Joni Eareckson Tada; let’s celebrate this day by singing together this song …
O, little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie.
Above the deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light
The hopes and joys of all the years are met in thee tonight.
Can you believe it! Today is Christmas Day. Today is the Christ-Day, the glorious, full-of-mirth day, a finally-here-day, long ago foretold, when “Unbeginning God” took on a birthday; the “Ancient of Days” became just minutes old! It’s Christmas, happiest day that’s ever been, the day God chose to save and love and lift; Oh, friend, be filled with gratitude within for God the Giver and for God the Gift!
That wonderful prose was written by my friend, Anne Ortlund, and I think it expresses the true joy of this glorious day, the happiest day that has ever been. It is a Christmas gift to you this December 25th from the Living God. “Thus says the Lord: The meaning of Christmas is that what is good and precious in your life need never be lost, and what is evil and undesirable in your life can be changed. That’s God’s gift to you.” John Piper said that. And I believe it. Do you fear that the few good things that make you happy are slipping through your fingers? Do you fear that the bad things you hate about yourself or your situation can't be changed? Well, guess what? These fears and frustrations are what Christmas came to change. It is God's message of hope today that what is good need never be lost and what is bad can be changed.
Think about that. God's message to you today is that whatever is good and precious in your life need never be lost. No beauty, no pleasure, no love, no skill that is good and delightful need vanish forever from you. It can all be saved. The Christmas message is that even when you feel them slipping between your fingers, God can catch them all and one day He’ll restore them all to you again. "The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save it for you, not to destroy it." Isn’t that good news?
But not only that, the message of Christmas is that whatever is evil and undesirable in your life can be changed. You need never look at your bad habits and say, "Well, that's just the way I am," … no, don’t think that way. Rather, the message of Christmas is that what is evil and undesirable in your life can be changed, all because of Jesus Christ. Because of Him, a critical spirit can be changed. Irritability can be changed. Harshness and ingratitude can be changed. Indifference to beauty can be transformed. And that’s why this special day is the happiest day that’s ever been. Jesus has the power to change your life: to preserve the good things, and to do away with the bad things.
Merry Christmas from all of us at Joni and Friends!
© Joni and Friends, 2013
Compliments of Joni and Friends
PO Box 3333 Agoura Hills, CA 91376