Reading the Christmas Story

 December 24, 2024

Tuesday

Philippians 2:5 (ESV) ⁵  Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

When we read the story of someone, we may feel like we know that person but we don't. We only know what was written in the story. That is all that many people know of Jesus. They don't know Him. They don't know His characteristics. They have never spoken to Him and they have never had Him speak to them. He is more of an imaginary friend that a real friend. He doesn't appear to exist for those who do not know Jesus. He disappears as soon as the book is closed.

The goal of reading the Christmas story in the Bible is not so that we can make a tradition that our children will remember. It is to help them understand that Jesus is a real person that they can personally know. They can know Him through experience beyond the times they have read about Him in the Bible. If we continue to speak to Him, obey Him, act like He acted with the humility that He had and listen for Him for wisdom, we will have a mind like His. We will know Him as well as we know anyone.

These words will scare many people. They do not believe that Jesus exists outside of the stories recorded in the Bible. They know Him in His literature but they do not know Him personally. Theirs is a religion full of rituals but without encounters. 

Of course, there are also those who make up their stories of encounters with Jesus. They tell stories of Jesus coming to them which are more than fantastic. They can't be refuted because no one else is there. And your own experience may be different from theirs. So, they may or may not have had these experiences. but we won't know for sure. We simply accept them until we hear otherwise.

So, go beyond the Christmas story when you read it this year. Ask the question: Do you know Jesus? He came so that we would know Him and have an eternal life with Him. It goes beyond knowing about Him. So, go beyond knowing about Him.