Infinitum Family Advent, Week 1Sample

Do you remember that part in the story, The Grinch Stole Christmas when the Grinch’s heart “grew three sizes that day?” We love that moment when his heart breaks the frame. Before that happened, he stood with his Grinch feet stuck in the snow and waited. For what? To see what would happen when the Who Village realized that their packages, boxes, and bags had been taken away.

But instead of the anticipated “boo hoo'' reaching his ears, a song did! The Who’s song reached him…with unexpected beauty.

The song wasn’t necessarily beautiful because of the sound or even the words. I mean, who really knows what “Dahoo Dores” even means? No - their song was beautiful because it came from something that couldn’t be packaged in a box. Something internal.

It was then that the Grinch had his “AHA!” moment and thought, “Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store...Maybe Christmas is a little bit more.” The Grinch had an encounter with beauty and his heart expanded three sizes to take it in…because that’s what beauty does.

The Grinch had his heart blown wide open by beauty. The purpose of beauty in the world is to expand our hearts to take in the eternal and infinite (think: forever and ever) love of God.

We know this deep down, don’t we? When we see the beauty of a perfect wave, or hear a super catchy song, or feel small next to a mountain, we become a little bigger inside. We all need moments like this. Moments that blow our heart wide open to make room for the BIGNESS of God’s love.

Because in 2 Corinthians 3:18 it says there is something that happens when we open ourselves to beauty. When we “see the glory of the Lord … we are being transformed [yes, like in Transformers] into the same image.”

If God truly is The Beautiful One, the source where all beauty comes from, then as we pay attention to these beautiful moments, we are paying attention to Him. And we start to become like Him.

Take a minute to let your imagination wander to something you consider beautiful. Go ahead, close your eyes and let your mind wander! This is you seeing “the Glory of the Lord” this week by beholding beauty.

As you imagine Him, ask, “God, how are you wanting to transform me in this moment to look more like You?”

If you would like to follow along each week of Advent with Infinitum, please visit https://infinitumlife.com/2022advent for more bible reading plans and advent resources.