“God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son…whoever believes may have everlasting life!” (John 3:16).

That “greatest fact” is worth receiving as a reminder that Christmas’ celebration never need be argued against because “it costs so much.” Decorating and celebrating—giving and receiving gifts at this season—are not unworthy practices (as though “spending” at Christmas was merely “commercial”).

It’s not so, loved one. Never let yourself become snared in that cynical trap! Christmas has always been costly—from the very beginning, in fact. It cost Heaven everything!

Bethlehem‘s barnyard cradle wasn’t the only sacrifice. It was simply the original packaging for the treasure that Heaven’s heart was giving us. The Cross was the real price of Christmas, for it was wrapped in the Gift from the start—a Gift that was marvelously and mysteriously provided for and pre-paid from before all time! (1 Peter 1:20; Revelation 13:8).

So it was, the Christmas Child came to us. And in light of appropriately evaluating that costly gift, everything in me wants to answer a call I hear the Spirit whispering this season. He’s summoning me—can you hear Him too? He’s calling us to “spend big” this season—to do so in a dynamic and holy way…in the light of Heaven’s gift of the Child.

Join me in “spending” whatever needs to be “laid out or laid down” for God to find in me another “child of Christmas.” I want the willingness of His only begotten Son—a willing readiness to go, to love, to serve, to give, and to care for human need and brokenness—to be replicated in me. –Jack Hayford

Jack so gets it, doesn’t he?

Consider the Mother of God

“Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”

But…Could she even have imagined, when the angel came to tell her she’d been chosen by God, that her heart would, could ever hurt this badly?  Could she have comprehended when she obeyed and received the invitation of God Almighty that it would not exempt her from agony in raising this son to watch him die for the sins of the world?  Did she realize that the honor of carrying the Light-seed of God, His very Glory, could also bring anguish and despair, could break her heart into a million pieces, too?

How can this be?

“How can this be?” she had asked the Angel, Gabriel, when he’d announced to her that she, though a virgin, would conceive and bring forth a Son.  It must have been awe-inspiring, mystical, with trepidations – a decision had to be made.

Later, I wonder, as she watched Him arrested and beaten and hanging on a cross, was she asking that same question again? How can this be, my sinless Son?

Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.”

Did it feel like favor when all seemed lost?

My low-church Protestant background eschewed anything that could remotely be considered “Mary worship” and we have missed the beauty of this admirable woman.

Last Christmas, I had a renewed regard of Mary and what she represents for us.  She was a girl who was called by God and she struggled to understand and comprehend –  and was troubled by it, perhaps sensing it could hurt her and would be beyond overwhelming.  But she said yes.  She said yes to the gift and blessing of God in her life, yes to whatever will be, yes to the joy of His birth and the mystery of His life and the agony of His death before her very eyes.

Mary, did you know?  And if you had foresight, would you, for the Glory, do it all agin?  Yes, I think she would.

I don’t worship her, I am not praying to her, but I am of the generations who call her blessed (Luke 1.48), and I wholeheartedly do.  She was humble, she was obedient, she said yes to God.

May it be said of us, too.

Let it be to me according to Your Word, O LORD.