As I was decorating my home for Christmas and placed the Manger scene in its place, I heard these words, “go beyond the manger”.  A newborn baby brings joy to those around but this newborn, the Son of God brings Salvation. Thinking about Christmas and its glorious celebration of the birth of our Lord, it took me to the Cross where Jesus fulfilled His purpose of His birth.

As we celebrate this Christmas go beyond the babe in the Manger
To the Cross, where Jesus saved us from all of sin’s danger

He’s no longer the babe who cried on that first Christmas night
Where the shepherds came to worship Him in the middle of the night

Where the angels sang the praises for God’s gift from above
To all of mankind the saving grace of love

Go beyond the fact that he was born in obscurity
Look for the purpose of His birth from the Trinity

Born to be Healer, Savior, Redeemer and King
In our love for Him loudly our praises sing

Christmas is the time to give and receive gifts with great joy
But the best gift of all has been God’s gift – the Manger’s baby boy

No longer in the Manger, no longer on the Cross
He is seated in Heaven and intercedes for the lost

As we believe and confess Jesus is our Savior, King, and Lord the same
We become God’s children saved and delivered from sin’s shame

When we go beyond the manger of God’s great gift to us
We realize the greatest gift we can give Him is our love and trust

May the joy the true Reason for this Season be in your heart forever

MERRY CHRISTMAS!