“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”  

- Luke 1:46-47

It is common for us to bemoan the commercialization of Christmas. From Black Friday on, budgets and bonuses are pointed toward gifts.

It's not that giving is bad, but let's be honest, we are really good at making ourselves and our stuff the centerpiece of Jesus' birthday celebration.

We get the family together, take the photos, open the gifts, take more photos, eat the food, open more gifts, take more photos...you get the idea.

Deep down we kind of like it because it weirdly ends up being about us.

At the announcement of Jesus' birth, we learn something from Mary that is very different from our cultural approach to Christmas.

Luke records her saying, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” Mary has been selected as the bearer of the Christ child.

If anyone is going to steal the show on Jesus' birthday, it’s the woman who will give birth to him.

And yet her first instinct is worship. Her natural impulse is to exalt God.

Never forget this: Christmas should cause you to strike the chord of praise before it every causes you to strike a pose.

Today’s Reflection & Action:

This Christmas, is exalting Jesus your natural impulse? What cultural trappings have you fallen prey to?

Take time with those you love to offer praise to God for the amazing gift of His Son.

Faithfully,
Pastor Chris

Paper Sunday is blessed to collaborate with Chris Harper on this Advent Devotional Series.

Chris Harper is a speaker, writer, and disciple-maker. Chris is President of 252Edu, a consulting firm based in Dallas, Texas. Chris serves schools, churches, and non-profits by helping them "grow in wisdom, favor and stature with God and man.”

When not taking ground for King Jesus, you can find Chris on the basketball court playing a pick-up game. Chris is a sneakerhead, an avid reader, and loves a good cheeseburger. You can follow him @252consulting on Instagram.