Can We Find Christmas or Can Christmas Only Find Us?
Good Morning Friends,
Looking for the best gift to give this season? This Christmas may be blue for some of us. Some may have only the anticipation of happiness and others a latent anxiety for lack of a place to call home. But then in the story of the birth of Jesus we see that he too was a homeless child. The uncertainty of the experience, the expectation of the experience reminds me of the time I was in a foreign country at Christmas without presents under a tree. But this year, back at home, there will soon be a time to share gifts… and perhaps more important, the knowledge that someone else cares enough to boost our spirits, even though Christmas is always so much more. I wonder what will bring you comfort this expectant season. I wonder if you will be surprised by joy in recognizing the best gift of all. Still I wonder. Can We Find Christmas or Can Christmas Only Find Us?
Scripture: In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Luke 2:1-17 (NRSV)
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”
John 3:16 (NRSV)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love.
Ephesians 1:3-4 (NRSV)
Message: If Christmas means family, what does it mean to someone who has recently lost a member of theirs? If Christmas means shopping malls presents and Christmas tree lights in a decorated home, what does it mean to a person that has access to none of these things? What does a white Christmas mean for a person in Florida’s 90 degree weather? What does Christmas mean to a minister who has been emptied emotionally? So I wonder about the best way to experience Christmas. Somehow I doubt that the cultural subversion we celebrate is the thing we are to seek for and discover. Still though, somehow in the telling of the story, of the birth of Jesus, the meaning of Christmas comes alive. It is the scripture reading from Luke. And in it Jesus is somehow birthed in me. In in Jesus finds my soul and shares a solace. For in it, Jesus recognizes comes to us so we might share in the story of Christmas. For friends, Christmas means that God keeps His promises, even if others do not. Here God births in us the reality that Christmas means that we matter to God. Christmas means our past can be forgiven and our future guaranteed. Christmas means that whatever our situation, the life here and now can be full, and the return on our Christmas investment can be huge, if we realize it all begins with Christ. Here we discover that Christmas finds us in the love that is beyond time. And that is a message that in love God finds us and gives us the gift of life.
Pray that the Holy Spirit be part of our Christmas experience. Pray that we keep the gift of joy in our Christmas. Pray that we give our worries to God. Pray that we refuse to focus on what we do not have. Pray that we include a time to rest in the Spirit of Christmas. Pray that we never forget the reason for the season. Pray that we believe in the future joy God has planned for us. Pray that we hold our thoughts captive never letting them steal away the joy of Christmas that is a witness to God’s love. Pray we rejoice because we have been invited to be part of the story.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 