Archive for December, 2023
The After Christmas, Christmas
“… be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4: 32)
There is a Peanuts Cartoon in which Lucy says to Charlie Brown, “‘Tis the season of peace on earth good will toward men. I suppose we ought to be a little kinder toward each other.”
The ever hopeful Charlie responds, “It’s a shame we can’t make it last all year.” To which Lucy retorts, “What are you, some kind of religious fanatic?”
Compliance with Charlie’s idea would make for a better world. Don’t expect it to be lived out by others at all times. There are always Scrooges. They can find fault or failure in the best of things and most positive of comments. But wait, that is no reason we have to respond in kind. We can always engulf them in kindness and shower them with thoughtfulness.
Regardless of the attitude and spirit of others, you can model the wise men who left their visit with the infant Jesus, glorifying and praising God. Upbeat all! Go ahead and risk being considered some sort of religious fanatic.
Most people you encounter will have some load they are carrying. You can help lighten their load by having an uplifting spirit. Consider yourself an ambassador of the Lord Jesus on assignment to share His love with the least, the lost, and the last. Your assignment is to share “peace on earth good will toward men” – – – and women, children also.
Don’t be concerned with the response. That is their responsibility for which they are accountable.
Just as some people brighten up a room just by walking out you can resolve to brighten up any room you walk in.
Would you like to have more positive friends? By answering this simple question you can answer for yourself how to develop them. Do you like to be around upbeat people? Likely the answer is yes. So do others. Therefore, by being upbeat you attract others who are upbeat. It is within your ability to do it.
Who wants to be around people who are negative, complain a lot, or have nothing good to say? In fact, most of us run when we see them coming. Instead, be the kind of upbeat person who lights up a room with your spiritual energy.
Former President Calvin Coolidge somewhat spelled out the spirit Charlie Brown had in mind when he said, “Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.”
There are 365 days in the potential New Year. Resolve to meet the challenge of Charlie Brown. Better still the charge given in Scripture, “Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous….” (I Peter 3: 8)
The Birth of Jesus
May this account of the birth of Jesus as recorded in Luke 2:1-20 bless you.
“And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, 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, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’
So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.’ And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told to them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told to them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told to them.”
Where Is the Baby?
“And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.” (Luke 2: 16 – 20)
The beginning had ended. The shepherds came, saw the Christ child, and left, leaving Mary musing over what just happened. That pattern is still experienced in Christmas today.
If you think about it, some Christmas traditions are very strange. The greeting on one certain Christmas card goes like this: “Christmas is just plain weird. What other time of year do you sit around staring at a dead tree in your living room and eat candy out of your socks.”
There is nothing weird about Christmas, but all things are miraculous. The events of the first Christmas are worth emulating today.
THEY PROMOTED (Vs. 16)
Like the shepherds who had received the message from the angels, they came and visited baby Jesus. All this combined they became effusive in telling others. They promoted what had happened. Today we “talk-up” the advent of Christmas as no other time of the year. It is a joyous “Go tell it on the mountain” time like no other.
THEY PONDERED (Vs. 19)
After the shepherds left and before the Wise Men arrived Mary pondered what had just happened. After Christmas is a good time to reflect on what you have just seen and heard. Think about it and how it applies to your life. Be spiritually refreshed by what just happened and what effect it has on you. Don’t let Jesus get lost in secular activities.
There was a wealthy European family that decided to have their newborn baby dedicated in their enormous mansion. Dozens of guests were invited to the elaborate affair, and they all arrived dressed elegantly. After depositing their wraps on a bed in an upstairs room, the guests were entertained royally. Soon the time came for the main purpose of their gathering: the infant’s ceremony. But where was the baby? No one seemed to know. The child’s governess ran upstairs and returned with a desperate look on her face. Everyone searched frantically for the baby. Then someone recalled having seen him asleep on one of the beds. The baby was on a bed all right—buried beneath a pile of coats, jackets, and furs. The object of that day’s celebration had been forgotten, neglected, and nearly smothered. The baby whose birthday we celebrate at Christmas is easily hidden beneath the piles of traditions and cultural observances of the season. We need to enter every Advent season asking, “Where’s the baby?”
THEY PRAISED (Vs. 20)
The shepherds returned glorifying and praising God. That should be the lasting result of our celebration. Make it your lifestyle.
The Second Noel – Part Four
Part of the second noel was the announcement of God’s good will toward all.
In the supernatural act of Jesus’ birth God was showing His strong desire for our “good will.” His will toward us is good. He designed, devised, and desires our good will. Only we can prevent it.
On His natal night the shepherds heard the angels issue an ageless proclamation of “goodwill” on earth.
In announcing the birth of Christ the world’s first communication satellite was put in orbit above Bethlehem. All of nature was at the Father’s disposal and He used a star to mark the locale of Christ’s birth.
There is a bit of wit circulating that notes what a difference it would have made if these had been three wise women rather than wise men. They would have stopped and asked directions, and arrived on time. They would have helped deliver the baby, clean the stable, make a casserole, and brought disposable diapers as gifts.
The Magi were guided by that star.
They were Magi, not magicians, astronomers not astrologists, scientists not wizards.
They were wise not because of their learning but because of their seeking for wisdom and truth. In Christ they found both.
Even the dumb animals in the manger in Bethlehem knew more about the Christ child’s birth than the pious religious leaders in Jerusalem. We must be certain that we don’t simply know a lot about Him, but fail to know Him personally.
In contrast to the wise men, the shepherds represent one of the lowest classes of the society of the era. They were desert dwellers of low esteem. As Christianity is for the wealthy intellects so it is also for the poor and uneducated. It is for the “as many as will.”
When the angels spoke to the shepherds they in effect responded:
“Let us go…” (Vs. 15).
They acted on what they knew, not letting what they didn’t know keep them from acting.
Now that you have heard what they heard, will you not respond as they and say, “I am going…” “I am going to receive Christ.” “I am going to respond openly as did the shepherds.”
The Second Noel – Part Three
“Peace On Earth”
Peace is both an event and a process. On September 2, 1945, representatives of Japan and America, the two powers that had been locked in World War II, met on the deck of the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay and a peace treaty was signed. On that day peace was an event. Since that time it has been a process enjoyed by both parties to the treaty.
People want peace in their lives as a process. It is not possible without it first being an event. The event involves you signing a treaty with Christ. He has already signed it with His blood. Now by faith it is your turn to sign.
“Once on the eve of Christmas
when all strange things may hap,
I saw Mary the Mother
with her baby upon her lap.
I saw the Mother, Mary,
holding God’s little son.
She said to him, ‘Small one, tell me
When shall man’s war be done?’
Then the child spake and answered:
‘These wars shall end, said he,
when no man shall wound another
for fear of wounding me.’”
Many people misunderstand this angelic statement regarding peace to refer to the absence of war and hostility, and feel that it is unfulfilled.
Cynics scoff at the very idea of “Peace on earth…” They ask when and how. Longfellow wrote a poem that speaks to this.
“I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men.
And in despair I bowed my head:
‘There is no peace on earth,’ I said,
‘For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth good-will to men.’
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
‘God is not dead, nor does He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men.’”
The angelic statement was not a prophecy of peace, but rather a prescription for peace. Be certain to thank Him for the antidote for sin.