Lavish Love

Scotty Smith post:  A Prayer About a Delightfully HUGE Christmas

     “Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more. Isaiah. 65:17-19

     Heavenly Father, the long line at Wal-Mart gave me more than a chance to whine about the wait. Casual conversation with fellow shoppers, once again, highlighted the multiple ways the story of Christmas is told and experienced.

     To start with, Bing Crosby was crooning, “Have yourself a merry little Christmas ,” but on top of that I kept hearing this shopping-cart refrain, “We can’t afford much Christmas this year” and “We’re down-sizing Christmas this year.” I found myself grateful for the way you tell the story.

     Father, we’re not the ones who “do” Christmas, you are, and there’s nothing merely “merry” or “little” about Advent. The size of our Christmas has absolutely nothing to do with how much discretionary money we have to spend on bigger and better gifts. It has everything to do with how much of Jesus we see. I praise you that every Christmas is huge, delightfully huge, irrespective any economy or currency.

     Through Jesus, you’ve promised to create a new heaven and new earth from the stuff of our broken universe—a new creation world in which you will find great delight. We praise you for the magnificence and hope of your plan, mighty Father. And you’ve promised to redeem a pan-national people, to populate and celebrate this eternal habitation of peace and joy—a people in whom you find great delight and over whom you will rejoice forever. We praise you for your immeasurable grace and lavish love, merciful Father.

     Therefore, Lord Jesus, we intend to fix our gaze on you today and not on our shopping carts. For you’re the object, author and perfecter of our faith. You’ve already washed all our sins away, and one Day, you’ll wipe every tear away. Apart from you, Christmas is just one more banal carnal day. So very Amen, we pray, in your holy and loving name.