Christmas is here and gone…in many ways, so quickly. I know, I know – the music in the malls and all of the marketing that grabs a hold of one Christmas theme or character or tune, and the ubiquitous Christmas music (again, of whatever form) in some ways goes on and on.
But for the worshiper of God and the believer in Jesus, Christmas seems to come and go quickly. I was pulling my garbage can out to the curb last Tuesday morning (December 27) and looked off to the front porch of a home not far from mine, and was rather astounded to see a Christmas tree all wrapped in its disposable white plastic wrapping. That quickly, we’re past it!
All of which is to invite you to slow up a bit…still. Whether all of your Christmas decorations are already packed away or not, linger a bit near the manger and consider the wonder of what God did in sending his Son in the likeness of sinful flesh. Wonder at what God did when the Word became flesh!
On Christmas Day at First Covenant Grand Rapids, I sought to draw connections between Solomon and the Temple he built and the Incarnation of the Son of God. I just discovered a blog reflection on the very same theme from Christmas Eve 2011. Don Sweeting is a long-time acquaintance of mine, being a number of years ahead of me at both Deerfield High School and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. A Presbyterian church pastor, he is president of Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, FL…and a thought-provoking writer. Take a look at his reflections on Glory in the House: Solomon Sheds Light on the Incarnation.
