“A toast…to my big brother, George. The richest man in town!”
—Harry Bailey
This Christmas continues to bring back fond memories. I am from a very small town in Michigan and I lived there twenty years before moving to Florida. For the most part everyone knew their neighbors in Clio; most of them generational friends. It was a friendly town; a place where people helped one another. When my parents walked through town to shop, it took awhile because they briefly stopped to talk to others and catch up on life. Essentially, my whole family lived in Clio [relatives on my father’s and mother’s side]; therefore, all our holiday gatherings were filled with large numbers of family members and friends stopping in and spending time. Quite frankly, some of the streets and store fronts from the fictional town of Bedford Falls make me think of Clio as I was growing up.
Today, is our final lesson from the movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” It is Christmas Eve and people have gathered to help George and celebrate the true power of friendship and how it helps us be victorious in life. Harry, George’s brother has flown through a snowstorm in order to arrive and help his brother. When he arrives, Harry raises a glass, looks at his brother and says, “a toast…to my big brother George. The richest man in town!” George Bailey is not a man with gobs of money. However, he is a rich man because he values people, treats them with love, and has, in return, learned to receive the fruit of eternal Love (Gal 5:22-23). Sharing God’s love and goodness is meant to be reciprocal—like a never ending circle of Spirit-filled Life! God has freely given his love, mercy, and grace to us and we should freely turn to pass it on to others (Mat 10:8).
Today is Christmas Day and I pray for you to enjoy more of God’s love found in the Gift of Jesus the Christ! If we receive more of Christ’s nature—make room in our hearts—we will be more like him in how he loves. Jesus values his creation and treats people with divine mercy, love, and kindness. Jesus tells his disciples, “You are my friends if you do what I command (John 15:14). What does he command us to do? To remain in his love and to love one another (John 15:9).
The miracle of Christmas is the unfathomable, unending, unfailing, and immeasurable love of God for us. Jesus is God and he reveals his love for us as our Creator, Savior, Redeemer, Sustainer, Provider, Healer, Lord, Lover, Friend, and so much more. In God’s love [Gk. agape] we are no longer spiritually bankrupt…instead we are rich in Love! Run to life with God, because it really is a wonderful life!
OT Reading: Proverbs 17:17 CEV “A friend is there to help, in any situation, and relatives are born to share our troubles.”
NT Reading: John 15:13 “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
Promise: Psalm 145:8 NIV “The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.”
Prayer: Lord, today we celebrate the gift of your birth knowing this was your way to set abundant life before us. Thank you for the many ways you save us as you live in our hearts and work to transform our souls into your image. Teach us to walk in humility and love generously, because only then do we truly embody you. Out of the richness of your grace, you have offered us a rich and wonderful life. We welcome you Lord, Jesus, and bow in humble service to your love. In Jesus’ name.
NOTE: I have enjoyed sharing these advent devotionals with you. God used a tiny book called, “52 Little Lessons from It’s a Wonderful Life” written by Bob Welch to inspire me, help me think about the different characters, ponder quotes from the movie, take me on a journey to see the movie in a whole new Light in my own heart, and write about them based on Old and New Testament Scripture. I pray you enjoyed them. I will be taking a break from devotions until the beginning of January, but urge you to spend time in God’s Word. Let’s enjoy the blessing of God’s love as we seek to love others! Merry Christmas!