The Bible: Our Holiday Instruction Manual
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A holiday tradition in our family occurs in the days following Christmas, when the projects are constructed. Novel-thick instruction book in hand and numbered bags lined up neatly, the construction projects ensue. Breakfast comes and goes, lunch is cleaned up and dinner has long since passed – finally, she emerges from her labor of love with the finished project.
God delights in every area of our lives, the psalmist wrote. He knows every hair on our heads, the gospel of Matthew records. He knit us in our mother’s womb. We are not an accident, but a planned and purposed creation of the Almighty God. Christmas reminds us of the purposeful nature of God. Jesus’ birth fulfilled many prophecies in the Old Testament! From the way Mary conceived Him to the star the magi followed to visit Him. Christmas is a reminder that God is just as purposeful with our lives.
God loved us so much, He sent Jesus to earth. He didn’t have to do that. He wanted to. He delights in us. When He looks at us, He doesn’t see the flaws and sins, He sees us for who we really are - His children, even when we have to take pieces apart and reconstruct an area of our lives which is causing us to stumble.
God will surely discipline us, as any good Father would, but He is also encouraging and equipping. His love is unfailing. Great is His faithfulness. Though we stumble, we will never fall, for the Lord holds us by the hand. I believe He holds our hand through Christ Jesus, the Living Word of God.
Christ willingly gave up His rights as the Son of God and came to earth as a baby born in Bethlehem to Mary and Joseph. He grew up in a family and had friends. He had a trade and calling on His life. All similar to our lives. Though we cannot live the sinless life He did on this earth, but we can follow in the footsteps He left, as recorded in Scripture. He is the fulfillment of all the Old Testament looks to, and the reality of what we face together in the New Testament. His life directs our steps daily.
The season of Advent is an opportune time for us to prepare our hearts for the arrival of Christ Jesus on Christmas Day. He is alive, sitting at the right hand of the Father in Heaven, interceding for us. Through the power of the Holy Spirit living in us, He is always with us. The holidays are lonely for some of us, but we are never alone. Even when we feel isolated and unknown in a crowded room, He is always there. He understands, and lends compassion to us. The Word of God is our instruction manual, and He is the Living Word of God. This holiday seasons, go to the Word for all of the how-to’s.
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