The Sparkle Of Christmas

The word sparkle is a fascinating word for me. It brings several images to mind. For instance, I still remember a particular night as a young boy, going outside  after dark one Christmas Eve after a fresh snowfall, and seeing the surface of the snow sparkle in the reflection of our porch light. I remember the sparkle of all the Christmas lights that were on the bushes outside our house, as their reflection glimmered across the surface of the white snow. 

To me, Christmas is all about family. It’s a time when most people want to be together with the ones they love. Many have what they call family traditions on Christmas -- a particular way of doing things that is repeated each year.  My family has a tradition of making homemade gifts. We started in 2005. It’s turned into so much fun, mainly because we usually aren’t very good at it. Before we open our gifts, there is usually a disclaimer - sometimes the gift is unfinished, or didn’t turn out right, and is a flop. Regardless, we laugh and have such a good time opening our gifts. I suppose the sparkle of Christmas can be seen in my family’s eyes as we share such good times together. And if you look really close, even now, you’ll see a sparkle in my eyes, as I reflect on such wonderful, fond memories.

Yes, Christmas is about family, and just as we as parents are fond of our family, God the Father is fond of His family. He sees us as His children. That’s because God chose to adopt us, through Christ, as His very own children. Here’s a great Christmas verse, even though it’s not in the Christmas story, that teaches what God has done......

Galatians 4:4-7
But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”

According to this verse, when the timing was right, God sent His Son to buy freedom for us (redemption) so that He could adopt us as His “very own children”, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”  This word “Abba” is an Aramaic word, the common language of the day for Jews, and Abba is an intimate, affectionate expression for Father. It’s like saying Daddy. It’s the type of relationship God wants with us - a loving father/child relationship. 

I suppose the real sparkle of Christmas is the sparkle that is in God’s eyes when He looks at His children, just as the sparkle is in a mother’s eyes when she first sees her new born child, or the sparkle is in a couple’s eyes as they are reciting their marriage vows. In His sight, we are to Him, most highly valued, most cherished, most treasured, and most loved.

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1).

Nobody loves his family more than God loves His family. Nobody loves his children more than God loves His children. And He is such a gift-giver! 

“Every good and perfect gift is from above.” (James 1:17). 

He gives us Grace.......“Because of the overflowing grace God has given to you, thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!” (2 Cor 9:14-15).

He gives us Peace........“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” (John 14:27).

His gifts for us in this life go on and on, but ultimately, He gives us Eternal Life........“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23).

So why is God such a gift-giver? The answer: LOVE. “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:9-10). 

There's no doubt that God's most precious gift to us is.......His Son. 

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

There’s a common saying for Christians around this time of year. It’s this:

“Jesus Is The Reason For The Season”

That’s very true, but looking at the big picture, the real "reason for the season" is.... YOU! -- for you are the reason that God sent His son to earth. You are the reason for Christmas! God wants to adopt you as His child, so He can be your Father - your Abba Father, and it took Jesus to come to earth to do it. 

In the world’s eyes, Christmas is about a lot of different things, but in God’s eyes, you are what Christmas is all about. You are the reason Jesus came to earth, therefore, 

“You Are The Reason For The Season”!

And if you are one of His, when God looks at you, there is a sparkle in His eye.

That, my friends, is The Sparkle of Christmas.



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