Christmas Is Busy!
Without a doubt, Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year. Churches have programs, cantatas, children’s pageants, youth Christmas caroling, and the list goes on and on. There are parties, family get-togethers, gift buying and wrapping, and of course there’s always travel. All this business can leave us exhausted.
“Jesus is the reason for the season” became popular a few years ago. It’s so easy to let the business of the Advent season control us. Many of our obligations and distractions are good – but we must guard against letting the days before Christmas pass without living the Christmas message. Our scripture says we can serve Him, “Without fear in holiness and righteousness.” Until Jesus came, the people of God lived in fear of God. Only the high priest served God in the Temple. The people were slaves to the law but did not enjoy a personal relationship with God.
We could not go directly to God, so God came to us through a Son. This is what incarnation means, and this is the miracle of Christmas. God became like us so we could become like Him through faith, and thus enjoy fellowship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
During this last week before Christmas, as you finish up the shopping, wrapping and cooking, remember why Christ came to us. Christ lived to rescue us, to redeem us, and to draw us near to the Father and to show us the love of the Father. This is why we celebrate and give. The gift people need is not found in a department store. The shepherds found Jesus in a manger wrapped in swaddling clothes. Others may find Jesus in us as we become His hands and feet. We are Jesus’ messengers. Jesus has come for all of us.
Prayer – Father, thank you for sending Jesus. Show me today how I can be a messenger of the Gospel for everyone around me. Thank you for Jesus and thank you for using me to spread the love of Jesus. Amen.
Luke 1:74-75 – “To rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve Him without fear in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.”
By the Rev. Tommy Herndon
Images: Arun Kuchibhotla, Chris Briggs & Jon Carlson, courtesy of Unsplash
