Christmas Is . . . : Devotions From Time of Grace Sample

Christmas is a time to think

Have you ever heard of Sakichi Toyoda? He was the father of the man who became famous for his car company. Sakichi himself was a wise businessman who is known in the leadership world for his “5 Whys,” a method of thinking deeply through complex problems and confusing situations. Mr. Toyoda found that when he forced himself to ask why? five times in a row, he would often discover powerful solutions to his problems.

I wonder if that’s what Mary did on that first Christmas night. “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:19). Jesus’ mother treasured up all these things—the cries of her baby, the shouts of the wide-eyed shepherds, and the smell of the barnyard where the birth happened—and she pondered them in her heart. Mary thought deeply about what had all happened in Bethlehem and what it meant for God’s people.

That’s a wonderful way for you to think too. Treasure this season up and ponder it all. Dig deeply into words like hope, peace, and joy until their true meanings get to your heart. Make each verse of the Christmas story sit on a metal chair at the Pondering Police Station and interrogate it with Mr. Toyoda’s questions—Why was Jesus born? Why did we need to be saved? Why is sin such a big deal? Why is heaven worth getting to? Why is being with God the best thing imaginable? By the end of that pondering, you might end up with the good news that causes great joy, just like the angels promised.

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