Don’t Forget The Baby

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Have Yourself A Merry Little

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Don’t Forget The Baby

by Jimmy Bryant

Are you ready for Christmas? Do you have all your Is He really with us? What place will He occupy in Christmas presents bought? Are you cooking your home and family and mine? This child referred to in Christmas dinner this year? How many times will Matthew chapter 1 is none other than the “only begotten you have to answer those questions this year? With each Son of God.” God sent His only begotten Son into this sinquestion and each answer, the tension builds. Gradually, stained world, and this Son of God came into this world the joy of Christmas turns into the dread of Christmas. fully aware of what He faced. He lived, loved, suffered, Why? Does it make us feel inadequate, incompetent, or and died on a cruel cross for my sin and yours. Jesus had perhaps like a procrastinator? Of course, hot on the heels of the inquirer’s question is the ever-pressing Christmas dinner menu. The questions will follow: are you baking a ham? Are you roasting a turkey? What sides will you prepare?

If constant curiosity is not enough, you must also deal with the family. Of course, your own family will be fantastic, but some in-laws come with the package too. As you try to take it all in, you find yourself wishing it could be just the kids: your kids. You didn’t know anyone knew this much about you, did you? I don’t. It just seems typical to me.

You fielded all the inquiries, you did get the menu planned, and you made peace with your heart about your children not being children anymore. authority over sin, death, hell, and the grave. He arose However, there is one detail that you have overlooked: what bodily from the tomb and promised to come back for us one Christmas is all about. You forgot the baby! day. If the death of Jesus was payment for the penalty of

Long before the car seat requirement, when our first my sin, then His resurrection was for the assurance of my child was born, he was only a few weeks old. We took him eternal life. with us to buy groceries. Returning to the car, I leaned in to Go ahead and answer the questions. Go ahead and put the groceries on the seat. Instead, I—thank God—gently prepare the Christmas menu. Don’t worry; you will handle tossed the baby in and set the groceries partially on him. the family, but don’t miss the reason behind all this that we

My heart almost stopped. For just a moment, a critical call Christmas. Don’t forget the baby who became a man, moment, I forgot the baby. Matthew 1:18, 23 says, “Now the died in our place, bodily rose from the dead, and promised birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary to return for us one day. Merry Christmas! was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit…‘Behold, the virgin Following his 80th birthday and almost 59 years shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us.’” About The Author in the ministry, Bryant retired, again. He and his wife of almost 60 years have two sons, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. They make their home in Summerville, Georgia. He is 6 // December 2020 the author of “Confessions of a Baptist Minister.”

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