Did you know, Jesus was before He was born?

The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us… John 1:14 niv

Precious sojourner, I don’t know about you, but at our house, the yard pumpkins and fall leaves have all been removed.  They’ve been replaced with a large wooden nativity – handcrafted by Dad and painted by Mom.  Soon, hopefully, the tree will be standing, festive decorations moved in temporarily, and suddenly all will declare – “It’s Christmas!”  Time marches steadily on whether I’m able to keep up or not.

And in the midst, I can find myself feeling a little empty.  I wonder sometimes if Charlie Brown might be a distant relative. “What’s Christmas really all about?”  It’s time to remember the answer I received many years ago.

Just home from college, my grandparents were visiting.  Every family member scrambled about the house trying to get somewhere.  Suddenly, Grandpa spoke and asked everyone to sit down.  We did exactly that.  Indeed, we rolled eyes and looked at watches, but out of respect for his elder position, we sat and listened.  Maybe he would keep it short.

Grandpa opened his Bible and began to read as if he had never read these words before. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. (John 1:1-2 NIV) Then he flipped all the way back to Genesis 1:26, and he read: Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness…” Back to the New Testament, he landed in John 1 – The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.

Grandpa looked up and stated something neither he nor I had ever comprehended.  Jesus wasn’t just a baby born at Christmas to come, do good works on the earth, and then leave to go live eternity in heaven like any regular man.  Jesus has always dwelt with God and then He came to dwell with us.  We’ve never been without Him dwelling among us.

Grandpa’s words placed a giant missing puzzle piece into the mysterious picture of my faith.  And Christmas has never been the same!  I pray this Christmas will be revelatory for you as you recognize the truth of Jesus, the Word Who always was, and is and always will dwell among you – at Christmas and always.

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I have the honor and privilege of writing weekly devotionals for Daughter of Delight on Instagram.  This post with some slight variation was first posted as an original devotional for Daughter of Delight on Instagram – 12/2/2017.

I invite you to please take a moment to visit @daughterofdelight on Instagram.  I feel certain you’ll be encouraged and refreshed!