I read about a young couple whose business had failed, and they had little money to spend at Christmas. They were going to have to move out of their house after the new year. But they didn’t want their holiday season to be spoiled because of it. So they decided to throw a party. When the guests arrived, they saw a cedar tree decorated with one string of lights and small rolled-up pieces of paper tied to the limbs with ribbon.”
“Welcome to our ‘blessing tree’!” they said, beaming. “In spite of hard times, God has blessed us in so many ways that we decided to dedicate our tree to Him. Each piece of paper describes a blessing He has given us this year.”
This couple has faced more trials since then, but they have chosen to stay focused on the Lord. They often remark that the Christmas with the “blessing tree” was one of their most beautiful, because they could testify as Elizabeth did of Mary: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb” (Luke 1:42).
Whatever your difficulties, they needn’t spoil Christmas, for nothing can spoil Christ! Like this couple, stay focused on Jesus and seek ways to share His blessings with others—perhaps through your own “blessing tree.”—Joanie Yoder
Jesus came—and came for me! Simple words, and yet expressing Depths of holy mystery, Depths of wondrous love and blessing. —Havergal
Reflections: Name some ways you can focus on Jesus this Christmas. What are some blessings you can thank God for this Christmas?
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The crux of Christmas is Christ.
Judah (Genesis 29:25) was one of the sons of Jacob (Israel) whose offspring came to represent one of the twelve tribes of Israel. In later history, when the nation of Israel split into northern and southern kingdoms, Israel was the name of the northern ingdom and Judah the name of the southern kingdom. By the time of Luke 1, Judah (v.39) was the area still designated by that tribal name—though in most cases this southern region had come to be known as Judea. Most significant, however, is the fact that the tribe of Judah was prophesied as bringing to Israel her true and ultimate king (Genesis 49:8-10)—a promise fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the “lion of the tribe of Judah” (Revelation 5:5).
