Your Christmas Spirit is too small!

Daily Byte

In his book, “Your God is too small,” J.B. Phillips explains that the trouble facing many of us today is that have not found a God big enough for our modern needs. In a world where science and technological discoveries have stretched our minds to the limits (I mean who would have imagined magazines on our cell phones!), our ideas of God have remained largely stationary. Phillips challenges us to expand our notions of God past our traditional Sunday school versions of a “Policeman God” or a “Santa Claus” God. The point is that insufficient ideas of God will negatively impact the growth of our faith.

As you should already be able to tell by the way I have ripped off his title, I want to expand on Phillip’s excellent point. Today I would like too make the point that if our ‘Christmas spirit is too small’ then we are in danger of stifling and limiting a very important part of our overall faith.

For example, if we see ‘Christmas spirit’ as something that only exists for the second half of December then our Christmas spirit is definitely too small! What we celebrate at Christmas time – God becoming human through Jesus – is an essential aspect of faith that should be remembered all year round. Furthermore, during Christmas we are challenged to attitudes of peace and goodwill to all. Why limit that message to one month a year? The reality of God’s presence with us through Jesus should touch and transform every part of our lives every day of the year.

So this Christmas time resolve not to limit God. Instead commit yourself to a continual year round celebration of the very essence of the Christmas spirit, which is the message that God is always with us and always loving us.

Pray As You Go

Lord, we acknowledge that we often live with inadequate pictures of who you are. Help us to recognise how this limits the growth of our faith. This Christmas time we pray that you would expand our pictures of you and in this way deepen and grow our faith. We pray that everything you teach us about your character and mission to the world through Christmas time would be lived out in us every day of the year. We also pray that our ‘Christmas spirit’ would forever be modelled on your abundant and generous mercy, grace and love. In Christ name we pray. Amen.

Focus Reading

Luke 2: 9-14 (The Message)

There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Saviour has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger."
At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises:
‘Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.’