The Whole Christmas StoryParaugs

Day 24 (Christmas Eve) | Pass It On

A group of shepherds and some travelers from the East cottoned on to who Jesus was not long after he was born. By the time he spoke these weighty words, he had 11 faithful disciples and an unknown but surely unimpressive number of others who would have counted themselves as his followers.

As we prepare for Christmas Day 2023, a quick Google search tells me there are upwards of 2.3 billion Christians in the world ready to celebrate the birth of Jesus tomorrow. Along the way and down the years, people have been obediently obeying the command to make disciples, to baptize them, to teach them the way of Christ. And he has kept his promise to be with us.

It's tough to share our faith in a context where on the one hand, people think they know the bones of it from nativity plays and Christmas cards, and on the other, the highest value is placed on individual choice. But imagine if no one had told us we could know the God who made us, that we could live forgiven and new lives, and that we could live forever in his loving presence. Let’s be brave and make sure everyone we know has the chance to accept the gift of a new relationship with God.

Prayer

Thank you, Jesus, for the gift of your life on earth that changed my life all these centuries later. This Christmas, help me be a light that draws those around me to you.