A.W. Tozer “What comes to mind when you think about God is the most important think about you.” The same is true for Jesus: and our perception and understanding will affect every part and aspect of our lives. For many people when they think Jesus about Jesus, they think manger and baby Jesus and that is not wrong, just incomplete. Imagine you doing a jig-saw puzzle and you only have a few pieces put together, it maybe pretty, but it is at best very incomplete. Why do all kinds of people celebrate Christmas? Why do most people seem to love little baby Jesus? I think because Jesus as a baby can place no demands on your life. Now, believe me I know that babies do demand a lot of time and money. But, I am saying that when people’s conception of Jesus is that of a small child and not the risen Lord of the universe, their willingness to bend their knee in respect, submission and admiration greatly decreases.
To them Little Baby Jesus appears as a story that happened a long time ago in a land far, far, away! Our celebration of Christmas is not the yearly reenacting of a fairly tale, but the celebration of a real historical birth: of the most important birth ever recorded. Jesus is alive today as we know He conquered the grave. Nothing else can explain the failure of the Jews to produce a body, the radical change in the disciples, and the post-cross appearances. Scripture also says that he currently upholding our entire universe by His power (Col 1:13-22) To some people Jesus as a baby is cute and cuddly wrapped up and out in the cold. I have no doubt Jesus was a cute child, but that cute child’s most important moment came when He looked his worst. It is the image of the bloody savior that people don’t like to dwell on or think about. When the Passion of Christ came out many said it was too graphic. We have to face this painful and graphic reality when we see that baby who was born to bleed.Your enjoyment of Christmas is all because of Jesus: Virgin Birth, Sinless life, Brutal Cross, Resurrection, and Ascension to heaven.Keep a fully developed picture of Jesus in your mind this Christmas.
Have a great Christmas, Pastor Philip
BTW: the picture is to prove my point, not showcase great Christian art. But, the bird is a nice touch.
Here is a little Christmas devotion I did a few years back. It can be scary to look back at how bad some stuff I preached from years back is. But this is alright I think.
We know the impatient difficulty that children have waiting for Christmas. There was one man who waited for Christmas with more expectancy than any other. He was an old man named Simeon. Simeon shows that God has a people prepared even in the worst of circumstances. The story of Jesus' birth shows that when religious leaders and institutions are corrupt, God still has a quiet people prepared for His coming. The characters of Luke 1 and 2—Elizabeth and Zechariah, Simeon and Anna, Joseph and Mary—reminds us that God will always have a faithful people, even in the worst of times.
Simeon shows us how to prepare our hearts for Christmas. We prepare for Christmas with integrity of heart and understanding of mind. There are certain things we should be and some things we should know as we wait for Christmas.
The Character of Those Who Wait for Christmas
Most of the people missed the significant events of that first Christmas. The political and religious leaders did not even know what was happening. Many in our city will altogether miss the significance of Christmas. Simeon was one of the few who saw and understood the mighty act of God that first Christmas. What characterized him?
Wait for Christmas with integrity. Simeon was "righteous and devout." With reference to God's will, there was reverence, devotion, and care about spiritual duties. No one sees Christmas who does not guard the integrity of his life. Only those whose hearts are right with God will see and sense the significance of Christmas.
Wait for Christmas with intensity. Simeon was "waiting for the consolation of Israel." A fierce intensity of expectation characterized Simeon. He lived daily in a white heat of expectancy that God was about to intervene. We experience as much of God as we intensely expect to experience. Christmastime ought to be a time to evaluate our spiritual expectancy.
Wait for Christmas with inspiration. The most critical aspect of Simeon's character was his relationship to the Holy Spirit. "The Holy Spirit was upon him" (v. 25) in an abiding communion with God. The Holy Spirit had given him a revelation—that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah. The Holy Spirit gave him a direction: "Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts" (v. 27). The first Christmas was marked by a renewal of activity on the part of the Spirit of God. Every Christmas ought to be marked by a renewal of the Spirit in our lives.
The Comfort of Those Who Wait for Christmas
A sense of comfort and well-being characterizes those ready for the significance of Christmas. That comfort comes from our relationship to Christ.
Comfort comes in our reception of Christ. "Simeon took Him in his arms and praised God" (v. 28). In a literal sense, Simeon was the first person on record to receive Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he came at exactly the right time to precisely the right place. Many parents were bringing their infants to the temple for the act of presentation. Nothing physical or dramatic caused Mary, Joseph, and Jesus to stand out from the crowd. Yet Simeon unerringly found his way to the Christ. Has God led you to His Christ? The Holy Spirit is able to bring you to that precise time and place where your life intersects with His. The very same Spirit that drew Simeon draws you this Christmas.
Comfort comes from our satisfaction with Christ. Simeon expressed total fulfillment of life when he saw the Christ (v. 29). His words reflect a servant who had been posted by his master to wait for a certain event. When that event has happened, the tired servant asks to be dismissed. Simeon discovered absolute contentment and total well-being in seeing and receiving Christ. Do you face this Christmas with a sense of well-being and contentment in your life? Only seeing and receiving Christ gives that.
The Concern of Those Who Wait for Christmas
Christmas gives us a comfort, but it also gives our life an ultimate concern and mission.
Christmas concerns the certainty of God's faithfulness. He is a God who keeps His promise (v. 29). Our entire relationship to God depends on His faithfulness to His promises. In the coming of Christ we see that God does keep His promises. At least seventy-three specific promises written in the Old Testament were fulfilled in the coming of the Messiah at Christmas. We may be sure that the God who kept His promises in the past is the God who will keep His promises in the future.
Christmas concerns the universality of God's salvation. The old Jew, Simeon, proclaimed that the baby he held was a "light for revelation to the Gentiles" (v. 32). He saw that what happened in Jerusalem that day was for the entire planet. A piercing light flashes in every direction from that awesome moment. The very fact you are here today is proof of that. After this prophecy by Simeon, wise men from the East came to bow before the infant Christ. The Christian world mission cannot be separated from Christmas. It is news too good to keep. By prayer and by gift we must send that light.
Here is a funny little video. Unless you have gone to seminary, some of the humor may be a little lost on you. But for the rest of you what do you think.
O God, most high, most glorious, the thought of Thine infinite serenity cheers me, for I am toiling and moiling, troubled and distressed, but Thou art for ever at perfect peace. Thy designs cause thee no fear or care of unfulfilment, they stand fast as the eternal hills. Thy power knows no bond, Thy goodness no stint. Thou bringest order out of confusion, and my defeats are Thy victories: The Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
I come to Thee as a sinner with cares and sorrows, to leave every concern entirely to Thee, every sin calling for Christ's precious blood; revive deep spirituality in my heart; let me live near to the great Shepherd, hear His voice, know its tones, follow its calls. Keep me from deception by causing me to abide in the truth, from harm by helping me to walk in the power of the Spirit. Give me intenser faith in the eternal verities, burning into me by experience the things I know; Let me never be ashamed of the truth of the gospel, that I may bear its reproach, vindicate it, see Jesus as its essence, know in it the power of the Spirit.
Lord, help me, for I am often lukewarm and chill; unbelief mars my confidence, sin makes me forget Thee. Let the weeds that grow in my soul be cut at their roots; grant me to know that I truly live only when I live to Thee, that all else is trifling. Thy presence alone can make me holy, devout, strong and happy. Abide in me, gracious God.
