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“Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with jubilation; Come before Him with rejoicing. Know that the Lord Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.” Psalm 100:1-3

Who doesn’t love the iconic Christmas movie, “Elf?” (Seriously, if you’re not a fan, you may want to consider getting some counseling.) For me, one of the most endearing things about the movie is the main character (Buddy the Elf) and his unabashed enthusiasm for all things Christmas (and, of course, for the four food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns, and syrup). There’s that one pinnacle scene in the department store when Buddy finds out that Santa will be there the next day. His response is beyond excited, as he shouts to everyone around him: “Santa! I know him!”

This silly and heartwarming Christmas-staple movie is also a fitting illustration for living the Christian life. And it’s deeply convicting.

When we first come to know the love, forgiveness and saving grace of Jesus Christ, I can safely say we are all in—experiencing daily Buddy-like enthusiasm for all-things-Christian because our whole view of life has changed. Everything becomes “the best” because we are new creations in Christ, washed as white as snow in the blood of Christ, set free from the bondage of sin…the world around us is truly something we discover anew with our fresh heavenly perspective (think of all the “bests” Buddy finds as he explores New York City).

Most obvious for new believers is the sheer joy of knowing Jesus—as Savior and new best friend. I recall when I first surrendered to Christ, I was so excited to profess my love for the Lord to people around me. And when everything is spiritually sparkly new, it’s easy to identify God’s hand in it all and be thankful and overjoyed. But as time—and life’s challenges and tedium—rolls on, though, do we let that unabashed enthusiasm fade? Do we let the daily miracles become commonplace in our minds? Is our relationship with the Lord so “old hat” and mundane that it’s not the focus of every interaction and experience we have?

Friend, whether we’ve been walking with the Lord for 50 minutes or 50 years, let’s commit to recapturing that initial unabashed joy and enthusiasm for all-things-Jesus. This Christmas let’s put on our proverbial Buddy-the-Elf hat and look around with fresh eyes of childlike faith. Let’s embrace the reflection of God in everyone we come into contact with and every little (and big) miracle. Maybe, at some point this Christmas, we’ll even take the opportunity to shout to those around us, “Jesus! I know Him!” And then proceed to share the Good News of who He is and why He is so wonderful.

“Lord, let my childlike wonder and joy for You never fade, but only grow deeper and more profound as I continue to walk with You through this life.”

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life