12月17日
圣诞传统
“他们急忙去了，就寻见马利亚和约瑟 ，又有那婴孩卧在马槽里； 既然看见，就把天使论这孩子的话传开了。凡听见的，就诧异牧羊之人对他们所说的话。马利亚却把这一切的事存在心里，反复思想。”
路加福音 2:16-19
多年来，人们已经形成了一种浓厚的圣诞节传统。有些人阅读路加福音第二章中的圣诞故事；有些人在圣诞树下摆放一份送给耶稣的礼物；有些人让家里的小朋友讲述耶稣诞生的故事；还有一些人去教会参加特殊的礼拜；有些人却仅仅是迫不及待地打开礼物以及尽情享受美食。
圣诞节的传统实际上应该做两件事：一是更加亲近耶稣，一是更加彼此相爱。我们庆祝圣诞节，因为耶稣已经降生，祂已经走入了人类的历史。我们接受和给予礼物，是因为上帝把祂的独生爱子赐给我们，使我们拥有了丰盛的生命。 通过互赠礼物，我们学习为所得到的丰盛生命和在耶稣基督里的美好交通而谦卑感恩。
你现在所处的人生阶段，或许正是你生命改变有意义的一年。请不要忘记效法马利亚。在访客们的庆贺、来去之间，马利亚却“把这一切的事存在心里，反复思想。”
今日祷告：
耶稣，让我记住这圣诞节的意义，它的中心是主，祢自己。阿们
December 17
Traditions
They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.
LUKE 2:16 –19
Some people have developed strong Christmas traditions over the years. Some people read the Christmas story in Luke 2, while others put a present for Jesus under the tree. Some ask the younger kids in their families to tell the story of Jesus’ birth, and still others go to special church services. Some simply rip open presents and gorge on good food.
Christmas traditions are supposed to do two things, really. They are to draw us to Jesus and draw us toward each other. We celebrate Christmas because Jesus has been born, because he has entered into history. We receive and give gifts because God gave his only Son so that we might have abundant life. By accepting presents together, we are reminded to be humbly thankful for the abundant life and the abundant fellowship we share in Christ Jesus.
Because of your stage in life, this might be an interesting year of change for you. Be sure to follow Mary’s example. Even in the midst of visitors and transitions, she paused to treasure the birth of Jesus and made it a regular routine to remember.
Pray for the Day:
Jesus, let me remember the meaning of this season—which is you. Amen.
Leave a Reply