Are You Ready for Christmas (2021)?


As we come to the end of 2021, I thought I would take the time to revive an entry from December 2010, to be reminded of the timelessness of the Incarnation and solid Rock of our hope.

Are you ready for Christmas?

This time of year is so full of emotion and memories.  Some seem almost magical and full of hope, while others are full of despair, and even more so as time marches on.
 
What is on your mind and heart this Christmas season?

Are you ready for Christmas?

"BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL," which translated means, "GOD WITH US." 
(Matthew 1:23 NASB, quoted from Isaiah 7:14)

"God with us." - !
     As we look at some of the Messianic Scriptures today, I would like for us to consider a couple of questions:
  •  How was it that the Messiah - God with us - was introduced to the world over 2,000 years ago?
  •  How is it that He will be introduced to our world today?
I believe He will be introduced in much the same way now as then.

     As we look at the Scriptures today, let me suggest some parallels and applications to our lives.  We will see how 'God with us' seeks to work in us, among us, and through us.
     The Scriptures say that God sent His Son in the "fullness of the time" (Galatians 4:4). What made that time right?  What prepared the way?

Imagine the scene in Luke 2:8-15, which begins:
'In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields 
and keeping watch over their flock by night. '

     If we weren't so familiar with the story, we might be surprised that God would enter the world in such a way.  The people of that time certainly would have been - but it was so inconspicuous as to escape the notice of all but a few (I'm sure the Pharisees missed it altogether).
The shepherds - the lowest of the low - why were they the first to hear the good news that night?
And what about that stable - dingy and dirty - hardly a worthy place for the Messiah to rest!?
     Are we surprised?  We really shouldn't be.  God has always chosen to dwell with the lowly:

'For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, "I dwell on a high and holy place, And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of the contrite.' 
(Isaiah 57:15 NASB)

     God has always drawn nearest to the lowly - the truly humble of spirit - to revive their spirits and hearts.
     Perhaps the shepherds were the ones who most needed to hear the good news that night.
     And so it is with us.  The most important thing we can do to prepare for Christmas is to humble our hearts before Him.  As the shepherds were, we should never cease to be utterly amazed - and maybe even a little frightened - that God would dwell with us - within us.

Let's look further at how the way is prepared for Him.
Read Isaiah 40:3-5, 41:17-18, which ends
'I will make the wilderness a pool of water 
And the dry land fountains of water.'

It's a beautiful picture isn't it?  Prosperity in the wilderness...  How will it happen?

I believe the scriptural pattern is that it happens inside out, God at work in us, among us, and through us into the lives of others.

God at Work In Us
     Like the wilderness we just read about, our souls and hearts are very much like a desert in need of life, and darkness in need of light.  (Psalm 63:1, Isaiah 9:2, 60:2)

'For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;'
(2 Corinthians 4:6-7 NASB)

     Where has God's light shone?  Not just above us to impress us, or around us, but in us.  He has shone in our hearts as believers with the light of the knowledge of Christ Himself.  "Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:27)
     He shines in such a way that He gets the glory.  We should be very clear that the "surpassing greatness of the power" is indeed from God and not from ourselves.
     This requires humility.
     Is Christ shining in your heart today?  Are you letting Him have His way in your heart and life?
God wants to work primarily in us - in our relationship with Him.

God at Work Among Us
     In our society today, what characterizes our relationships with others?  If we are honest, too often we find strife, division, conflict, selfishness, deception.
     Maybe at Christmas time it seems a little better (or maybe even a little worse!), but in January we're "back to normal".
In Colossians 3:5, 12-17 we see
  •  We should put aside immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (particularly strong at Christmas!)
  •  Our relationships must be characterized by compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance, forgiveness, and love.
  •  We recognize that these attributes come directly from God and not from ourselves (Galatians 5:22-23).  

Are we giving Him control over our relationships?
God's work is primarily in us - in our relationship with Him.
God's work is next among us - in our relationships with other believers.

God at Work Through Us

"Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. "For behold, darkness will cover the earth And deep darkness the peoples; But the LORD will rise upon you And His glory will appear upon you. "Nations will come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising." 
(Isaiah 60:1-3 NASB)

     God's glory in our lives is not only to be enjoyed - it is to be shared!

Notice the reality for God's people:
     "Arise, shine..."
     "...the glory of the Lord has risen upon you."
'Upon you' - both the Lord Himself and His glory.
God's presence in our lives should give us confidence even in a dark world.

Notice the contrast:
     "...darkness will cover the earth, and deep darkness the peoples..."
     "But the LORD will rise upon you, And His glory will appear on you."
God's glory shining through us!

'Rise' means like the dawn, literally to irradiate and shoot forth beams.  Like the sun at dawn, God shines forth on us and breaks out from us.  Amazing!  (see also Hosea 6:3, Proverbs 4:18)
What will the result be?
"nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising."
People in darkness will be drawn to the light - just as we have been.

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. "
(Matthew 5:14-16 NASB)

"In such a way..." - what does that mean?
Light shining through us will result in good works.
Is this light from ourselves?
No, it is God working through us that He may be glorified.

Conclusion
     Because God is with us, He intends to shine in us (our relationship with Him), among us (our relationships with fellow believers), and through us (our relationship to the world around us).

"Arise, shine; for your light has come, 
And the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.”  
(Isaiah 60:1)

Are you ready for Christmas?



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