In the early ’70s, I used to visit the county jail. There were about a hundred men incarcerated. Times were different then, and the warden let me roam freely. One Christmas, our youth group went to local shoe stores and collected empty boxes. We wrapped them in Christmas paper and filled them with homemade cookies, candy (no gum!), fruit, a little Bible, writing paper (no pen!), and a personal note.
For a long time after that, I would see those boxes carefully stored in the corners of the men’s cells. It broke my heart. Lonely men treasured them as Christmas presents. We had intended them as Christmas Presence.
How about you? Most likely, you’ll give and receive presents this year—and you’ll treasure them.
But are you open to receiving the Christmas Presence? Maybe not even receiving—but recognizing. The word “recognize” means “to know again.” I’m not offering you something new; I’m inviting you to re-cognize—to know again—the truth you already know: that Jesus is present with you.
In the busyness, the routines, the anxieties, and the wondering about whether our efforts make a difference, it’s easy to forget. We can start to feel like Lincoln at Gettysburg: “The world will little note nor long remember.”
Maybe the world won’t. But Jesus reminds us to remember what He sees:
“God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them.”
—Hebrews 6:10
Do you see the connection? “The love you showed Him as you loved His people.” Same thing! When we love and serve others, we are loving and serving Jesus Himself. We might forget—but He doesn’t. We think, “Jesus, I don’t remember visiting You.” He says, “You might not—but I do.” (Matthew 25:36)
And He doesn’t measure how well we do it—just that we actually do it (1 Corinthians 4:2). That’s His standard. Christmas Presence!
A phrase from the communion service is forever written on my heart:
“We confess that He was once forsaken by God so that we might forever be accepted by Him.”
That’s the heart of Christmas Presence.
The stories of people in the Bible help us re-cognize God’s presence, too:
- Jacob, on the run: “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I didn’t know it.” (Genesis 28:16)
- Joseph, facing temptation: “How can I do this and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9)
- King David, after failure: “Against You, You only, have I sinned.” (Psalm 51:4)
- Saul, while persecuting believers: “Saul, why do you persecute Me?” (Acts 9:4)
- Paul, on a sinking ship: “Last night an angel of God (we know Who that was!) stood by me.” (Acts 27:23)
- John, in lonely exile: “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard a voice behind me.” (Revelation 1:10)
This Christmas, let’s re-cognize the Voice of His Presence—in our homes, our workplaces, our communities, and even in the quiet corners of our own hearts.
Let His Presence become your greatest gift this Christmas—and let it overflow into presence for others.
Rev. Rensselaer Owen (“Ren”) Broekhuizen is a retired pastor, missionary, and founding member of Ridge Point Community Church in Holland, Michigan. A longtime Crossroads mentor, he continues to share encouragement and wisdom through his writing and ministry.