Don’t Put Jesus In a Box
“I will extol Thee, my God, O King; And I will bless Thy name forever and ever. Everyday I will bless Thee, and I will praise Thy name forever and ever. Great is the LORD, and highly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise Thy works to another, and shall declare Thy mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of Thy majesty, and on Thy wonderful works, I will meditate.” Psalm 145:1-5
When do you take down your Christmas tree and decorations? For many, it all comes down this week. We pack them all up and we put Christmas back in the box.
I don’t like packing Christmas away for another year. But I also don’t like keeping Jesus as a baby and in a box.
Yes, there is something simple about the birth of Jesus. We think of this story and it somehow feels safe and warm. Visualizing Him as helpless and small makes Him easy to be controlled. I don’t need to deal with His majesty and power.
Jesus doesn’t want to remain a baby in our lives, nor does He want to be put into a box. He grew up and delights in being the God we can trust and follow through every circumstance of our lives. He came to be our Savior and He desires for all of us to see His majesty and awesome power, to fall to our knees and worship Him as our Lord.
Each year I like to keep one Christmas decoration or ornament out of the box and place it somewhere where I least expect it as a reminder to myself to not put Jesus in a box. But to see Him for Who He truly is, our Savior and Lord.
Prayer:
Lord, I love the presents and the lights and I’m not looking forward to taking it all down, but I’m most grateful for You sending Your Son as Light of the World. The decorations gently reminded me I don’t have to be all decked out in beautiful array to come before You; You are more concerned with what’s inside.
I don’t ever want to put You into a box. I pause right now and recognize you as my grown-up Lord and Savior, out of the feeding box and on the throne of my heart. Please help me to always keep You there. My I continually mediate upon Your glorious splendor and wonderful works. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Visit Marsha @ Marsha’s Musings.
I guess for me, Christmas happened over 16 years ago, when I got to know the baby from the cradle, on his way to the tomb and risen from the grave. Jesus has a warm place in my heart.
Oh Amen Marsha,
The real triumph is our celebration in the Spring. When our Jesus as a man, died and rose. That is not safe and comfortable at all. But oh so awesome. Hugs. Happy 2010.
Great devo sis! I’ve thought about keeping out one of my Christmas snow globes out all year round. It’s a beautiful manger scene. I’ve always wondered why we only have the manger out one time a year. For me it reminds me of why He came to this world in the first place. He was born to die… How humbling….
I pray you had a great Christmas with family and friends sis! When are you coming up north?
Love you!
Amen to your prayer, Marsha. May we always have Him in our heart and never, ever put Him into a box.
I like your thought on keeping out one ornament all year…
This is a wonderful devo! Thank you! I like your idea to leave out a decoration as a reminder of Christmas all year long. I posted a song about after Christmas on my blog today that has a really great message similar to this.
Hugs to you!
Bethany
Beautiful prayer and devotional…love your idea of leaving an ornament out as a reminder…I have purposed in my heart to destory the “box” I used to put my Lord in and to never allow another box in my life again…..
Wonderful , I really agree , jesus donst belong in a box and it always makes me sad to see him treated as such. The LORD is with us every moment , with every breath , we should praise him with every micron of our existence.
Thank you for sharing
Amen to that prayer. Such a beautiful idea to keep an ornament out as a reminder not to put Jesus in a box.
Thank you, Marsha! Happy New Year, too! I like the ornament reminder:-) Sometimes I think we’re the ones who are stuck in a box – because in HIM we can live and move and have our being…without confinement – PTL!
hugs,
Vicki