Hennie Symington

The wisdom I proclaim is God's secret wisdom, which is hidden from human beings, but which he had already chosen for our glory even before the world was made. 2 Corinthians 2:7

What do you do when you’re tired of the whole Christmas thing long before Christmas day? Where do you go when you’ve had enough of the eating and drinking while your soul is dying of thirst and the excessive shopping for extravagant gifts in the name of someone who was born in a humble stable more than two thousand years ago irks you even if you go along with it?

You can’t help thinking: this is not what God had in mind when he launched the biggest rescue plan in the history of mankind when he sent his Son to be born here on earth. It couldn’t have been easy for him to suffer the pains of birth and to dwell amongst us in a sinful world which had no inkling of what it must have been like for the Messiah to renounce his heavenly glory to live like one of us.

Truly, God who became human is not just the focus of a single day of jollity and celebration. It is the greatest miracle ever – greater than a landing on Mars or any rock star’s performance. It is nothing less than a once off, immense and mind-blowing event that changed the course not only of history, but the lives of billions of people including your own. So let us vow to cherish the manger in our hearts for next year and the one after that. Let us look beyond the here and now to eternity where God has already prepared a new heaven and a new earth for us with the Son sitting at his right hand.

Ok, let’s try again. Christmas is coming and you cannot keep it to yourself. Your heart is beating the drum to a joyful tune sung by a heavenly host: “Joy to the world, the Lord has come! Let earth receive her king…!”

Prayer: Jesus, you are greater than all the dreams and desires of people. You are so much bigger than history. You are eternal and omniscient. Help me to treasure the wonder of your birth in my heart. Amen