Attitude 4

John 1:10-11

One of the gifts we received on our wedding was an incredibly nice pizza stone. It apparently helps you bake a pizza in the oven by distributing the heat more evenly. It was a nice gift in that we recognized that it was an expensive present and a well-made stone.

The problem was that we really didn’t make a lot of pizzas when we were first married, or for the first ten or fifteen years for that matter. The stone was tucked away, unused for many years until at last it either was damaged or we simply got tired of having it and we threw it out. We had a great gift that we just didn’t appreciate or value.

Unfortunately the same thing can happen with our attitude toward Jesus. What does John have to say about Jesus? What did the world NOT do? Who are the people described as “his own?”

John’s comments let us know exactly who Jesus is. He is God. He was with God in the beginning of all things and, according to John, Jesus was that part of God which created all that exists. Yet, in spite of who Jesus was, the world did not recognize him as God. Although Jesus was the Immanuel – God with us – still the people of earth did not see the value of Jesus. The people then did not receive him.

The same can be true even today. There are many in the world who do not recognize who Jesus is. They do not see the value of the baby born in Bethlehem.

And even those who are Christians, who claim a belief and acceptance of Jesus, can lose sight of the true meaning of what Christmas is all about. People today can reject him, or not receive him, if they lose sight of the meaning of Christmas.

When we approach Christmas with our focus on the gifts we exchange with one another, or we focus on the lights and decorations of Christmas, we have lost the value of the reason for the holy birth. We must keep our focus on why Christmas is celebrated. We must be certain our attitude is one that celebrates the salvation God offers through His Son. And this may require a change in our attitude this holiday.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How can you show that you value who Jesus is?