December 25

Hebrews 12:1-2

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God

This is what Christmas is all about: fixing your eyes on Jesus. Needless to say it has been a rough couple of weeks for a lot of us, but in all circumstances we are to fix our eyes on Jesus. F. LaGard Smith points out that there probably was only one person who was present for both the birth and the death of Jesus: his mother Mary. Both are very different circumstances. His birth was an occasion where a young woman was first introduced to the joys of motherhood. Even though Jesus was the Son of God, Mary still experienced all the feelings and emotions that went along with His birth. His death was a time of sorrow. Even though Mary knew the purpose of Jesus' life on Earth, I'm sure it didn't make it any easier when it came time to watch her son die. Despite all this, Mary kept her eyes fixed on Jesus, in times of rejoicing and times of sorrow.

This is certainly something that I needed to remember this Christmas season. 

Merry Christmas, everyone. I pray that we all throw off what hinders us and run the race set before us, with our eyes fixed upon Jesus!