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"For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight." (Ephesians 1:4 NIV)
It was October and Christmas catalogues had already begun to arrive. When we went to town, my granddaughters were thrilled to notice Christmas displays in the stores. They begged to wander the aisles that sported both the latest Christmas wish gifts, as well as indoor and outdoor decorations. I however, was feeling rather appalled to be bombarded so early in the year with the commercialism of Christmas. One thing had to be said though: Marketers certainly are intentional when it comes to making plans to promote the season. They know how to plan ahead and then how to launch those plans to get people's attention.
As I considered this, I thought about God's intention, when it came to Christmas. He was planning it, even before the creation of the world. God is timeless. He knows all things. He knew that man, would sin and a Saviour would be needed to cleanse us of our sin, to restore us back into a right relationship with him, our Heavenly Father. God's intention for Christmas, the coming of Christ was there from the beginning. We see the first foretaste of that intention in Genesis 3:15 when the Lord states that he will put enmity between the serpent and the woman, and between the serpent's offspring and the woman's; he will crush the serpent's head, and the serpent will crush his heel.
In fact, there are a number of Old Testament prophecies which predict the birth of Christ. Isaiah 7:13-14 tells us that Christ will be born out of the house of David to a virgin. Jeremiah 23:5-6 predicts the righteousness of Christ who will be a King and save his people. Micah 5:2 states he would be born in Bethlehem. Yes, God planned ahead, He had intention when it came to the first Christ mas. Then he promoted the fact that Christmas, the salvation of the people was coming, by getting the people's attention through the prophets.
As I considered these things I was challenged with how intentional my Christmas plans are, or are they? How much attention do I really devote to the celebration of the birth of the Saviour, in comparison to the time I spend buying, wrapping, sending, making, cooking, cleaning, decorating and gathering? Where are the eyes of my heart focused? Are they on the Christ child and what his coming meant for the whole world, including me or have the intentional plans of commercialism diverted my focus?
Gods' plans for the first Christmas were intentional. I pray that mine, as well as yours may be likewise.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Christ, the greatest Christmas gift of all. May my plans to remember his birth this year, be intent on making him the focus of my celebrations. In Christ's name. Amen.
Lynne Phipps
Tawatinaw, Alberta, Canada
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