December 26th
Christmas Day has passed. But the story is just beginning.
We have seen the baby. We have met Jesus. But there is so much more.
The hard truth for us that we have become comfortable claiming relationships but never developing them. We get a rush out of meeting someone, exchanging numbers, and then never calling. We have grown accustomed to requesting or confirming a friendship and then moving on. We think nothing of following people but never knowing them.
Is it possible that we are content to celebrate Christmas and never get to know Christ? Have we adopted the Christian label as a way of confirming friendship and gaining a spiritual piece of mind? From December 26 until the next Christmas, is there any effort given to developing a relationship with Jesus?
Yesterday was the celebration of an invitation. God came to close the gap between Creator and creation and make it possible for us to come close. God came to give His life so that we could have life. God came to show us the way home.
But just as many in Bethlehem ignored the birth of Jesus, many of us today ignore the invitation God has given.
Many people sing songs, light candles, and give gifts, but the invitation to come close and come home remains just an invitation. It’s heartbreaking.
How should we respond to Christmas?
On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived. When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” 33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him. Luke 2:21-40
How will you spend the next year developing your relationship with Jesus? What new steps will you take? What old habits will you leave behind? Christmas is an invitation to know God like He knows you. What is your response?
Only 364 more days until Christmas!