A quick glance down the
driveway or into the den confirms what the calendar reveals—the Christmas
season has arrived once again. Once
again, we trim trees, hang lights, and move Nativities from the attic to the
open. Once again we buy gifts, bake
cookies, and mail cards. Once again we
sing carols, ring bells, and light candles.
But why? Why, year after year, December after December, for all of all
of our lives, do we do these same things again and again and again?
The answer goes back to the
sermon I heard last Sunday. (Yes, I’m still wondering about those words in the
warehouse.) The man who spoke at my
daughter’s college church was a guest preacher.
He works with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, and he preached
on Jesus’ parable about prayer in Luke 11.
It brought back memories.
One Sunday twenty-five years
ago at my college church, the man who spoke was a guest preacher. He worked with the Billy Graham Evangelistic
Association, and he preached on Jesus’ parable about prayer in Luke 11. Both men said the same thing—when we ask, God
supplies, so we can share His love and life with others. (For the record, I don’t think this is a
planned topic for Graham group speakers; I think the repeat was divinely
directed.)
Since I had already heard a
sermon on that Scripture, why did I listen again last Sunday? Why didn’t I close the Book and be done? For the same reason you and I are once again hanging
lights, trimming trees, and wrapping presents—God’s faithful love endures
forever.
Give or take a few dozen, I’ve
experience over nine thousand days of God’s faithfulness since I heard that sermon
the first time, and not once for a single moment during any of those days has
God’s grace in my life faltered or faded.
Not once has His mercy lessened.
Not once has His love wandered or wavered. His compassion has been constant, His forgiveness
unfailing, and His salvation secure. The
God who pours out on us abundantly more than all we can ask or imagine—this God
who supplies love and life to fill our souls and to share with others—should be
worshiped and praised over and over, again and again, day after day, year after
year.
His passion for our hearts moved
Him from heaven to earth to make us His own, and such an event is worth
celebrating season after season. So trim
the tree. String the lights. Give the gifts. And celebrate. Again and again.
We will never tire of the
repeat when it’s done for right reason—“Unto
you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
