Rend Collective - Campfire Christmas DevotionalSample

“O Holy Night” Devotional
Rend Collective

O Holy Night
The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of the dear Savior's birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
'Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope a weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.— John 1:14 (NIV)

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly. — Matthew 11: 28-30 (The Message)

My wife and I married on a snowy day a few weeks before Christmas. We spent our entire dating relationship and engagement long distance, writing emails, talking on the phone, counting down the days to the times I would be have a break from traveling on the road. The months before our wedding were almost painful because we just wanted to get to see each other in person without cellphones, computer screens or miles separating us. We were weary of having to describe everything we were going through to the other person. When we got married, it was amazing to finally get to experience the same things - to shoulder the other’s burdens, to laugh together. Just to get to be together.

When Jesus was born the world finally got to see God in person. He wasn’t just in a letter, he wasn’t just in the law, he came to earth in the flesh. Fully human, fully present. If we want to know what the Father looks like, all we have to do is look to Jesus. We no longer have to second-guess, or wonder if he really loves us. We can rest in the knowledge that God loved us so much he came to earth to be with us, to experience our pain, suffering and joy. He’s intimately acquainted with our frailty and not removed from our lives. We don’t have to explain things to him, he knows exactly how they feel.

Jesus also promises that he not only intimately knows our burdens, but he came to lift them. He is the peace we long for, the Messiah we were born needing.

Do you feel like you’re in a long distance relationship with God? What are the areas of your life you wish he understood? Why do you think he doesn’t? Today invite him and trust that he understands your deepest fears and anxieties.