“In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
–John 1:1 (NLT)
“She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.”
–Luke 2:7 (NLT)

A few Christmases ago, my wife and I took a vacation in Prescott, Arizona. On the afternoon of Christmas Eve I turned to my wife and said, “Why don’t we do something out of the ordinary? Let’s have spaghetti at midnight and really ring in Christmas!” My wife loves eating out, so she agreed.
At 11:30 that night we went to a 24-hour restaurant and had their spaghetti, a traditional favorite selection for us. We then went back to our hotel room and opened our Christmas presents before climbing into bed at about 3 AM. This very late dinner was a wonderful start to our Christmas morning, and it added a new dimension to the holiday season.
My wife and I like to do things that are spontaneous, because we find something unique about being with each other. In the same way, the majesty and the mystery of Christ can draw us to Him.
The majesty of the one who was the Word from the beginning, and the mystery of His virgin birth in a cold stable, are both summed up in the word “love”. Similarly, we need to see how special God’s love is for us.
We must also find ways to keep our relationship with God vibrant and alive, so that our love doesn’t grow cold. If we don’t look for creative ways to worship, our love towards Him will also become dull, and it will soon feel more like a duty than a delight.
You might be wondering what this has to do with your celebration of Christmas, and I would say everything. Christmastime provides a perfect example of what I am speaking about, and I would like to explain.
Many of us are guilty of pretending to worship God with our lips, when our hearts are very far away from Him. While our hearts may not be exactly cold towards Him, we no longer have the same fervor and excitement that we once felt.
We are in what the Bible calls a lukewarm state. We sing all the right carols in church, but we can’t wait for Christmas dinner, and the presents under the tree are more important than the one who hung on a tree for us. During this time of year, shopping malls become sacred temples for many, while Christ is left out in the cold once again.
In order for God to thaw out our hearts, we need to meditate on the real meaning of Christmas in a new way. We need to get away from all of the hustle and bustle, and look at what Christ has done for each one of us personally. We need to think about how He left everything to become a man for you and me, and what that means. Once we have done this, the carols that we sing will become songs of praise that arise spontaneously from our hearts.
We need to let Christ be at the center of Christmas where He belongs, instead of leaving no room for Him in the inn of our hearts. As we freely draw closer and closer to God, He will fill our lives with joyful worship.
So if worshipping God isn’t as joyful for you as it once was, the Bible lets you know that just as you have moved away from Him, you can come back. But rather than condemning you, God invites you to experience the freedom of your first love.
I shared with you at the beginning of this blog that Stephanie and I like to do things that keep our love alive. If the routines of life are allowed to take over, any love will grow cold in time. Similarly, when we take God’s love for granted, we tend to drift away from Him.
Is there any better time to come back to Him than the Christmas season? In fact, why not stop what you are doing and pray right now? Ask God to help you live the joyful life of worship and thanksgiving that He has prepared for all of us. This is what Jesus called the abundant life, when He spoke about opening your heart to Him.
Although we’ve been talking about coming back to Christ so far, I would like to welcome you if you’re experiencing His love for the first time. While you may not feel different at first, the Bible says that God gives joy unspeakable. This will become more and more of a reality as you walk with Him each day. As you draw closer to God, you will begin to appreciate His warmth and joy more and more.
Thank you for reading this, and may the Lord give you a wonderful week! We are trying to reach people who are hurting, so if God lays it on your heart, please consider becoming a partner with us. If you would like to make a donation, please visit www.hcmachaplains.org and click on the Donate Now link. You can also send donations by mail to HCMA (Healthcare Chaplains Ministry Association). Our ID number is 560. The address is 101 S Kraemer BLVD, Suite 123A, Placentia, CA 92870. Finally, you’re always welcome to join our Monday night Bible study or Tuesday night prayer meeting. Both are conducted by conference call, and they take place at 5:30 PM Arizona time. Our conference number is 712-775-7031, and our ID is 607518748. We hope to talk with you soon!
If you have questions, comments or prayer requests for Timothy or Stephanie Burdick, please call 507-369-6861.