A Silent, Simple Night

Christmas is not complex.

It is not intended to send families into debt they will not recover from till the next Christmas rolls around. It is not about about who has the most toys. It is about love. It is about compassion. It is about grace. It is about redemption.

These gifts came to us in the most unexpected way and in the most unpretentious package – the birth of a Child whose crib was a manger, and whose witnesses were farm animals, and whose first visitors were shepherds. One child and one future sacrifice sent to redeem the whole of humanity from the past, present and future.

My prayer is that we don’t complicate this Christmas season. Don’t let it get cluttered. Don’t miss it’s joy. Don’t drown out the Christmas classics with the chaos around you. Don’t allow the venders and merchandisers to reduce you to borrowing money from Uncle Bob, who you don’t like all that much. Don’t allow materialism to take the place of God.

Instead, let us thank God for His unspeakable gift of Jesus Christ on that silent night so long ago.

Discussion Questions:

1. How can we stand in awe, and wonder together this year with the shepherds at the manger in Bethlehem?

2. How can we kneel with the wise men and lay our treasures, along with theirs, at Jesus’ feet?

3. How can we allow our hearts to be impacted by the ultimate sacrifice that awaited this Baby for the price of our salvation?

4. How can we allow the overwhelming wonder of this season that drew Christ to earth, along with unspeakable joy for the gift of life and eternity, move us this season?