Origin Story
I love everything about Christmas.
Decorations overtake my house, and I love plopping down on the couch with a fuzzy blankie or two and watch every Christmas movie I can get my hands on while admiring the twinkling lights and holiday decor as I scarf down my favorite cookies of the season.
All the hustle and bustle is awesome, and I wouldn't miss any joyful morsel (and I'm not just talking about the cookies).
But if I could pick just one thing about the holiday that moves me the most, it would be the story of Jesus and how, all over the world, millions gather to retell the beautiful tale of His foretold arrival.
The story is told in so many ways, but I have to say that I'm a sucker for an adorable church play with cute little kiddos acting out the parts (I'm a former Gabriel angel and Mary myself, not to brag or anything).
It's a story we've all heard so many times. We know all the characters, we can sing all the songs.
It's all so ingrained in us that we sometimes forget the magnificent power of the birth of our Savior.
We add the "go to church" appointment on our calendars for the obligatory hour visit on Christmas, squeezing it in amongst all the fun and frivolity the holiday season brings.
We dress up. We sing the songs. We clap. We throw in a couple of bucks in the basket as we wave at the Pastor to ensure he sees us.
Check that off the list. Off we go to the next thing.
But wait.
When you think about it, nothing is more important than the arrival of Jesus.
Our Savior. The one who came to save you and me.
The one born miraculously and lived on this earth thousands of years ago, ministering, healing, and teaching.
The one who chose to take on undeserved torture and punishment for everyone else.
The one who died but then rose from the dead, fulfilling prophesy and proving to the world that He was indeed who He said he was.
Jesus did all that for us - those living thousands of years later.
It's wild when you think about it.
The faithful believed and received the truth that this baby was the Messiah they were praying for.
Because of that starry night's birth of that sweet boy born to regular people in lowly circumstances, the world would be forever altered.
And here we are, thousands of years later, still telling the tale.
Still believing.
Still receiving.
Still changing.
Jesus changed everything for us; His origin story is also ours.
That truth is not something we should take lightly.
Where would we be without Jesus?
Seriously, where would we be?
I, for one, would be lost and held captive by the lies I believed for so long.
So, as your calendar fills up and you start to bustle that hustle, pause and remember the importance of the origin story.
Schedule time to read the origin story of our Savior and immerse yourself in the details of His arrival.
Let the joy of Jesus' arrival and His life fill you with hope and focus on what truly matters.
Beloved, God is the originator of all our stories.
And, like Jesus, your beginning was just the beginning.
The best is yet to come.
Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Luke 2: 10
But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people.
Matthew 2:10
When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.