The opening words of John's gospel indicate that God wanted to change the world but not from a distance so he decided to get up close and personal through his Son, Jesus Christ. He spells it out in verse 14. The word became flesh and dwelt among us. God comes to earth in the form of the Christ child. In time that child gave us a message saying: “I have come that they might have life and have it abundantly."

What do these words mean to us in the here and now?

I guess from an advertising point of view if one were to skew the message it might make a good slogan for selling the latest must-have computer game, Mac book or mobile phone. For some these things are their life, for they cannot seem to live without these accessories and they have them in abundance.

We'd be kidding ourselves, would we not, if we said that we too were not to a greater or lesser degree pulled into the commercial side of Christmas. But are we too, to be counted with those who strive for more than they need and can afford? Or do John’s words of Christ bringing us life in abundance have a deeper meaning for us.

I hope so, because surely the gift of God in Jesus is so much more than anything man-made.

Let us treasure the gift from God that we have been given this Christmas. The word made flesh in the Christ child. Let us not consign Jesus to a dusty old bookshelf to be left within the pages of scripture only to brought out once a year like the Christmas decorations. God isn’t just for Christmas, He’s for life.