–Bobby Cavazos  (The Cowboy From the Wild Horse Desert)

       “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

                         –John 3:17 (NKJV)
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               “Christmas Eve was a night of song that wrapped itself about you like a shawl. But it warmed more than your body. It warmed your heart…filled it, too, with melody that would last forever.”
                              –Bess Streeter Aldrich

I had put together my notes and was planning on continuing with thoughts on Samson, when I was nudged (by the Holy Spirit and my wife) to focus on the reason for the season–our Savior, Jesus Christ.  I will continue with Samson and the Psalms after Christmas which means it may be January.  I trust that you have already determined to set your eyes upon the Lord during this time of year.  It is a grand time, a wonderful time, and a mysterious time.  With that I want to draw your attention to part of that mystery.  

          “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
                         –John 3:16 (NKJV)

          “For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.” (Amplified)

This is one of, if not the most familiar verse in the Bible.  This is Christmas–God giving the gift of His Son.  This is part of two great mysteries:  the Trinity and the Incarnation.  But I want to concentrate on one word.  “Loved.”  This word, agape, has tremendous meaning.  It denotes tremendous passion, and, in fact, our word “agony” comes from this same root word.  Love and agony?  Think of the verse above, and let me paraphrase:  “God so agonized over the world.”  Can you picture the agony of God as He looked down upon this sinful world?  His love/agony over mankind needed a solution, hence, the sacrifice of His Son.
       When we look at the cross and the crucifixion we see tremendous physical and emotional agony.  There was also something happening in the spiritual world, a spiritual agony of sorts, but it started eons before when God loved the world…  So agonized in His love that He was willing for His Son to die to save mankind from their sins and give them life eternal.  Can you imagine what He sees today with those being offered so great a Gift and yet rejecting it?  “I gave My Son for you, don’t turn aside.  I have a great life for you, accept this Gift.”  My thoughts entirely, but…
       At the beginning of this Christmas season, look at the Gift of God’s infinite love.  How could He love so much?  I cannot explain, but He gave a gift in the form of His Son to save this sinful world, and that means you and me.  It may not be a carol, but the words of C. Bishop’s hymn come to my mind:

               “Such love, such wondrous love,
               Such love, such wondrous love,
               That God should love a sinner such as I,
               How wonderful is love like this!”

                         –J. Lee Butts  (Written in Blood)

       “And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”
                         –John 1:4 (NKJV)
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December!  What a wonderful month of celebration.  It is a month of birthdays:  my Mom’s (who dearly loved Christmastime) and my Aunt’s who were both born on this date.  And of course the main one that we celebrate is the birth of our Lord.  It is a month of singing:  carols and songs about the Christmas season.  Let me remind you that there is a difference between a Christmas song and a Christmas carol.  “White Christmas” and “Silver Bells” are examples of songs; “Silent Night” and “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” are examples of carols.  The carol is a hymn, and these bring reference to the Son of God–Jesus Christ.
       From time to time during the month I will refer to a hymn, and the first one was written in 1872 by Josiah G. Holland.  It is one that is rarely heard much less sung that tells of the birth of our Lord.  The Incarnation–what a mystery!  I doubt that the angels can even fathom what was taking place on the day in Bethlehem so many years ago.  Oh, there were on the scene, and they were praising and rejoicing, but I wonder, I just wonder if even they with their heavenly knowledge understood.

               There’s a song in the air!  There’s a star in the sky!
               There’s a mother’s deep prayer and a baby’s low cry!
               And the star rains its fire while the beautiful sing,
               For the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King!

       There was commotion taking place.  The heavens were alive and the spirit realm must have been fluttering with excitement.  Imagine, the One who sits upon the throne has chosen to become a man.  The evil one must have grinned in delight for he now has a chance to defeat his foe, just as he did Adam in the Garden so long ago.  

               There’s a tumult of joy o’er the wonderful birth,
               For the virgin’s sweet Boy is the Lord of the earth,
               Ay!  the star rains its fire while the beautiful sing,
               For the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King!

       The star, that wondrous light that guided the magi to Bethlehem was more than a bright light in the sky.  I believe it represented the glory of God.  The glory that the Child willingly placed aside to come to earth to face the perils that each man faces, and more.  He would be attacked like no other ever had been or ever will be.  Yes, there was the physical abuse, but I can only imagine the emotional, and the spiritual war that took place within Jesus.  I like to think that when Jesus looked up into the heavens He remembered that star.  
       
               In the light of that star lie the ages impearled;
               And that song from afar has swept over the world.
               Every hearth is aflame, and the beautiful sing
               In the homes of the nations that Jesus is King!

       Because of the birth of the Son, we have the hope of salvation.  Salvation that He provided on the cross, but started before at the birth.  Those who have accepted Jesus as their Savior understand the warmth that is in their heart; one that is aflame during the Christmas season.  Look down upon the baby lying there so serene, so innocent, and remember that He is more than just another child; He is the Savior of mankind.

               We rejoice in the light, and we echo the song
               That comes down through the night from the heavenly throng.
               Ay!  we shout to the lovely evangel they bring,
               And we greet in His cradle our Savior and King!

The star gave light to the magi to find the Child, just as He is the light for us to follow.  Rejoice, for we have seen a great light, the light of the world lying in a manger.

                          –Elmer Kelton  (Other Men’s Horses)

       “Yes, the LORD will give what is good; and our land will yield its increase.”

                          –Psalm 85:12 (NKJV)
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       There is a saying that money isn’t everything, but it’s way ahead of whatever is in second place.  Now, first of all, that is a bold-face lie.  The problem is that many people think that or strive to prove it true and in doing so lose all that is truly valuable.  I knew of a man who made $50,000 a week.  Wealthy?  Maybe in the eyes of the world, but he lost his wife and his children to drugs.  
       Solomon wrote, “There is a severe evil which I have seen under the sun:  Riches kept for their owner to his hurt.” (Ecclesiastes 5:13, NKJV).  What are those “severe evils”?  Mentioned already is the loss of a family.  But many of these men live in fear waiting for the next crash.  Some, like Howard Hughes, become a recluse, others spend their money to bring more evil upon the land like Soros.  We remember at this season the story of Ebenezer Scrooge who hoarded his wealth not caring about others until…  Look at verses 16-17, “And this also is a severe evil–just exactly as he came, so shall he go.  And what profit has he who labored for the wind?  All his days he also eats in darkness, and he has much sorrow and sickness and anger.” (NKJV)
       That is not to say that you should not enjoy the blessings of work.  In fact, Solomon in the next verse states, “Here is what I have seen:  It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage.”  Labor and its fruits are a gift for man to enjoy.  The dollar will not satisfy, therefore, we need to find pleasure in the simple things.  Walter C. Kaiser wrote, “The man who has learned the secret of enjoyment as a gift from God will not become anxious over the length of his life.  He has too much joy living to brood over the impermanence of his mortal being.  Rather, each day is taken as it come, as a gift from God.”
       Moreover, blessings given to you are to be shared in one form or another.  We need to invest in the vertical dimension of life and less in the horizontal.  Where are your treasures stored up?  The man to whom God has been generous is expected then to be generous.  To whom much is given, much is expected.  I like the words of John Wesley, “Make all you can, save all you can, give all you can.”  There needs to be more men like Wannamaker, LeTourneau, and Penny in this world who understood the value of living for the kingdom of God.  True, there are great philanthropists in the world, but why do they give?  Is it to ease conscience, or to meet the needs of others?  How many give to organizations that have a truly Biblical worldview of giving and helping?  Hmmm, think on that.
       God wants you to have the gift of contentment in your heart and this comes not from hoarding or in spending your life working for the American dream and dollar.  My Mom had a saying, “have to go to work–have to make a dollar.”  Mom liked to make money, but I saw her in the last years of life living not joyously, but in regret.  She never under-stood what true contentment was.  Her idea was to make money, and sure she would give it away, share it, but she had the wrong motives.  Man should enjoy life, not possessions.  Think of this, man, including the wealthy man, must return to his Maker devoid of riches, not even having a cloak.  Nevertheless, there still are men who will spend all their days in great sorrow and distressing labor for such an empty goal as this.
       In the Christmas season, learn the gift of giving, but with right purpose.  Don’t give to get, don’t give to manipulate, don’t give because of guilt–but give out of a joyous heart and from the blessings of God.  Remember, what is the value of giving if you have nothing at the end and there is no treasure in heaven.  “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”  I might add–the important things.
                 “If we focus more on the gifts than on the Giver, we are guilty of idolatry.  If we accept His gifts, but complain about them, we are guilty of ingratitude.  If we hoard His gifts and will not share them with others, we are guilty of indulgence.  But if we yield to His will and use what He gives us for His glory, then we can enjoy life and be satisfied.”
                            –Warren W. Wiersbe