For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 ESV

There are so many beautiful stories that surround Christmas. We see them in children’s pageants, and films, or read them in books and most of all in the Bible. But what if the wise men had never followed the star, or if after coming to Bethlehem, they decided not to give their gifts? What if the shepherds refused to go see the baby, or if there had been no manger for Jesus to be laid in? The answer is clearly that God would still have given his only Son.

But my problem with Christmas is that sometimes the people that I love, overlook, ignore and take that love for granted. I get discouraged and don’t understand why some folks just don’t get with the program. After all it’s Christmas! Then I remember that you and I are, more often than not, just like that with God.  We forget that when Jesus came to the manger in Bethlehem, there wasn’t a secret escape clause tucked in underneath His swaddling clothes and His love wasn’t given with a contract obligation. Rather, Christmas came as an unexpected, undeserved and shocking display of God’s love, based entirely on grace. Now of course, those who never came: the Herrods, the religious leaders, and the inn keepers with no room, missed out on receiving that gift. But their absence in no way diminished the miracle. So, this Christmas, whether you are surrounded by family or feeling isolated or rejected, remember that Jesus came for isolated shepherds, rejected couples like Joseph and Mary, and He also came for you. He has not forgotten you. No matter what others do, we can simply bow before Him and trust that the response of others will be in His hands, who knows how to work all things together for our good. Then come and worship, come and worship. Worship Christ our newborn King!