December 1: The Word That Formed the Worlds

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good." 

- Genesis 1:1-4a, ESV

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." 

- John 1:1-5, ESV

In the Beginning . . .

As we begin the month of December, our hearts and minds, and over-crowded schedules are focused on the rapid approach of Christmas. Shopping lists, decorating tasks, party schedules, gift ideas, baking, cards and family gatherings all conspire to make this one of the most intensely stressful times of the year. The pressure to make this "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" can make many parents - especially moms - feel like they are scrambling to catch up and always falling short. 

Let's take a few minutes each morning to remember that Christmas is not special because of what we do but because of what Christ has done. What brings lasting joy is not the perfect present under the tree, but the gift of salvation, laid in a manger more than 200 decades ago, in that little town of Bethlehem. 

Who was this child who was born in Bethlehem and was wrapped in swaddling cloths? What was the meaning of His coming into the world? Where do we begin in reflecting on the wonder of Christ's coming? Well, why not begin at the very beginning?

In the very beginning, God framed and ordered the universe and our home in it by using His word. He spoke and light penetrated darkness. He spoke and order brought shape and meaning to chaos. He spoke and life and beauty filled the empty void. 

John tells us something unexpected and marvelous at the beginning of his Gospel: This word which God spoke is a Person, a Person who has always been with God and a Person who has always been God. All things were made through this Person of the Word, just like we read in Genesis 1. Even more wonderfully, this Person of the Word is the life of the world and the light of all people. The light of the Word shines in the darkness of this world and is never grasped, never mastered, never comprehended and never overcome.

This Word is the One who "became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14)  Look outside for a moment and consider: The baby who laid in the manger on that first Christmas, the One whose coming we celebrate, was the Word that formed everything. Go outside tonight and look at the stars and consider: The One who spread that dazzling canopy of light is the light of the world who came into the world to show Himself to us and save us.

Lord Jesus, You are the Word that framed the world. You created everything, and then You stepped into Your creation as a baby, small and helpless, to reveal Yourself and redeem Your people. Such grace is too wonderful for us to comprehend. Fill our hearts with love and wonder that we may worship You this Advent season and always. Amen.

Enjoy this video from Deo Volente Media and Dave Morrow Music: