Today’s Devotional is offered by Robert Garrett

It is Christmas Eve: The Night Before Christmas.
Oxford Baptist Church will once again offer our community the opportunity for worship at 5:30 in the evening. I am grateful that our faith community takes time in the midst of the holiday madness to sit together and worship “…the one who has been born king…” (Matthew 2:2, NIV). It calls us all to take the opportunity to join the Magi who diligently sought out the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. “…they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” (v.11)

Whether you and your loved ones can be physically at church or not, I trust that you will pause and reflect on the true meaning of Christmas. It begs us to ask ourselves, “Who is my Lord? Who sits on the throne of my heart? Have I presented my treasures to Him who rules the world?

I fear that it is far too easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of gift buying and exchanging, the partying, and all that makes Christmas “the happiest time of the year.” When I look back on my childhood, I have fond memories of going to bed, “while visions of sugarplums danced in my head.” A Hop along Cassidy cowboy hat and six-shooter were all my six-year-old self could focus on. There is certainly nothing wrong with those Christmas traditions our families hold dear. It is essential, though, that we are all reminded that the true meaning of Christmas is centered on the Christ of the cradle who became the Christ of the cross. Let us come, adore HIM and give King Jesus the throne of our life.