Advent Devotions – Day 3

Luke 2:1: In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.

 Caesar wanted a headcount of everyone in the entire Roman world. He wanted a “count”. The noun can mean a sum, a tally, a reckoning. But used as a verb, count can mean to matter, to be important, significant, to make a difference.

Here we are, counting the days to Christmas, crossing the days off on our calendars as they fly by. You’re probably counting up Christmas presents on your list, and counting the cost as you spend money on those gifts, the decorations, the extra meals/dinners/parties during the holiday weeks to come, the number of people you’ll have over for the fun and frolic of the season.

Setting aside all those calculations for events around you, focus instead on what can be done to make this Christmas “count” for Christ? How can we centralize the story of our Savior’s birth into our holiday madness and rush?  Quiet your heart, put aside your task list for a few moments, and rest.  Take a moment today to count your blessings, and to realize how much you count to Christ!