Don’t you love seeing the world through the eyes of a child, especially at Christmas? Their eyes seem to twinkle as they share their expectations of the season. They are filled with a sense of wonder and joy. I can only imagine the anticipation on that first Christmas over 2000 years ago, when a bright star in the night sky announced the birth of the Messiah, Jesus. Only the Creator of the universe could have planned such a glorious birth announcement.
Do you think we really outgrow the little child inside of us who looks at Christmas with wonder? A child to whom the season is magical? We enter the season with great anticipation and expectations to find that Christmas is often cloaked in unmet expectations. At some point we face something unexpected to suffocate the wonder.
So how do we reclaim unmet expectations and redeem the wonder of Christmas?
We believe in the same wonder that was felt staring into the night sky on that first Christmas over 2000 years ago. We marvel at the Creator and the work of His hand.
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.” Psalm 19:1
The stars in the sky are truly glorious and point to the wonder of the Creator. Notice the verbs in that verse. God is declaring His glory and proclaiming His work of creation.
The five points of the star can be a tool for understanding God’s love for us and His desire to be in relationship with us. Perhaps it could be a concept you might share with someone during the Christmas season.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16
In this verse, God clearly sets the pattern of true love, the basis for all love relationships. God paid dearly with the life of His Son. Jesus accepted our punishment, paid the price for our sins and then offered us new life through a restored relationship with the Father, God. How can we not be wonderstruck by God’s unconditional love for us through the PROVISION of Jesus’ death on the cross? 
But it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 2 Timothy 1:10
In this verse, God declares His POWER through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross that overcame death and promised us eternal life through His resurrection. Death has no power over believers and they stand before God with no condemnation. That is the POWER of the gospel.
But the counselor, the Holy Spirit, who the Father will send in My name will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said. John 14:26
This verse assures us of the PRESENCE of God with us through the indwelling of the Spirit in the heart of every believer. God acts through, reveals His will to, and empowers His children to do His work by way of the Holy Spirit. That is the wonder of His PRESENCE with us.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:19
This verse is called the Great Commission and sends us out to teach others how to have a personal relationship with God. Wonder is knowing that the Creator of the universe loves us and wants to be in relationship with us. This is the same Creator who declares His glory through the heavens and proclaims His works through the stars.
Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:14 When we understand our PURPOSE, it PROPELS us to live our lives following the teachings of Jesus. To love and serve others not because of who we are but because of the Holy Spirit in us.
My “Star Story”
I can relate to this sense of wonder because of an experience I had on a recent trip to Nepal.
I call this my “Star Story.” Nepal is a spiritually dark and impoverished country, much like some of the decadent places we read about in the Old Testament. It was there that I experienced the wonder of God in these miraculous ways:
- I felt His provision as He miraculously guided us to a safe place, when our team became lost on a trail in the Himalayas.
- I saw His power through people coming to faith in the midst of oppressive spiritual warfare.
- I was amazed at His presence during times of praise and worship in the mountains.
- I was renewed in my sense of purpose to tell others about God’s great love for them.
- I encountered wonder that propels me to know more of Him and share with others.
I came home from that trip to Nepal wanting to live every day as if I were on a mission trip, seeking God’s plan and not my own…being intentional with my time….seeking opportunities to love and serve others.
This Christmas I pray each star you see will fill you with child-like wonder. I also pray it will remind you to trust God because I know He wants to use your ordinary life in extraordinary ways. Will you allow His PURPOSE to propel you to live your life as if you are on a mission trip?
What is your “Star Story?” Will you share how God revealed Himself as you reflect on the wonder of Christmas? How will you openly seek God’s PROVISION, POWER, PRESENCE or PURPOSE this Christmas season? How will that PROPEL you to live each day loving and serving others? Feel free to comment below or email HERE. I can’t wait to hear from you!
