Christmas Praise

When the aged Simeon, who had been promised that he would see the Messiah before he died, met Joseph and Mary in the Temple with Jesus, he immediately recognized the infant as the Saviour of the world. Imagine what it must have been like for him to gently cradle the little baby for whom he had waited so long, in his arms. Simeon recognized the truth of the Christmas story—that Jesus came to offer hope of forgiveness and salvation, and he issued a heartfelt prayer of praise and worship. 

While it is always right for us to be grateful and praise God, there is certainly no more meaningful time of year for us to remember and worship God than Christmas. This is the time when we remember most of all the amazing and enormous sacrifice that Christmas represents. The Bible reminds us, “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).

Though many of the Jewish people in Jesus’ day rejected Him because He was not offering them political deliverance from Roman oppression, Simeon recognized that the point of Jesus coming was to bring salvation into the world. And even as we celebrate Christmas, we should focus on the real purpose for the birth of Christ.

Today’s Discipleship Principle: When we understand the true meaning of Christmas, our hearts will be filled with praise for God’s love and mercy toward us.