Babies, Change . . . and Christmas!

We wish everyone a blessed, joyous Christmas!

Little babies have a way of changing things in big ways. We’ve been reminded of this firsthand throughout this year with the addition of two delightful little grandsons. They burst upon the scene in a big way in January and February, and we’ll never be the same!

For our family this Christmas will be unlike any other; once again we get to observe the special day through the eyes of a little one.

More than 2,000 years ago, another little baby initiated some really big changes with his inauspicious appearance in a tiny hamlet known as Bethlehem. Even before his arrival, this baby had a resume unlike any other: “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” (Isaiah 9:6).

From that humble beginning, the Bible tells us, the baby – named Jesus – “grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52). He is also described as “the Word (that) became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14).

Later in the same chapter, John the Baptist declared Him, “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).

Thankfully, Jesus did not remain a baby, even though at this time of year we focus on his birth. His role as Lamb of God, taking upon himself the sin of the world as he hung from a hideous cross, makes His birth worth celebrating.

As we pause to celebrate another Christmas, I hope you’re embracing the truth of Jesus Christ more tightly than ever.

Merry Christmas – and as Tiny Tim said in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, “God bless us, every one!”