Preparing for Christmas

For many thousands of Americans their Christmas preparations began the day after Thanksgiving with the traditional Black Friday shopping.  I myself prefer to do as much as my shopping as possible from the comfort of my living room via the internet and my laptop in my PJ’s if possible.  However, I did begin my Christmas preparations the day after Thanksgiving.   I would like to say I was preparing my heart and home for the up-coming celebration of Christ birth with prayer and meditation, but that would not be completely honest.  Like many others who chose not to go shopping, I took great care with preparing my home with Christmas decorations, the lights, the tree, all the pretty knick-knacks and lighted village.  I did pause and reflect a few extra moments when I set up the Nativity scene, specifically when I placed the baby Jesus in his manger in the barn, turned just right between the Virgin Mary and Joseph.  Then I moved on to the next item of decoration that needed to be placed just so. 

Later that weekend I shopped online for all the gifts my kids had requested deciding between the Nerf guns and video games, what would I choose to make their Christmas morning a surprise.  I placed my orders and packages have begun arriving, the boys anxiously wait for the first of the wrapped presents to appear under the tree.  Such care is taken with timing the placing of the gifts and their excitement grows as the days approach.  Christmas cards are signed and ready to send and soon I will begin making Christmas candy to give to friends & relatives.  Preparing for Christmas, right?   This morning as Pastor Bone delivered our message of Preparing for Christmas, my heart grew heavy as my own shame gathered on my face, what was I doing spiritually to prepare for Christmas?  Specifically how was I preparing for the celebration of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ???   

In Isaiah 9:6 we read of the foretold birth of the Messiah,

“For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

When Christ was born over 2,000 years ago, his birth should not have come as a surprise.  God’s word had already promised of such a delivery, but when the time came for Mary to deliver the Christ child, the nations were sleeping.  Caught up in the busy task of their day, Jesus came as a whisper in the night.  They knew HE was coming and did nothing.  The prophets had already told them in several places in the Old Testament, but yet nobody was preparing for this triumphant entrance of God’s only son.  There was no baby shower or celebration of life, no crib prepared, not even a decent place for a mother to deliver a child.  Jesus came to us in the most humble of ways, in a smelly barn surrounded by livestock, wrapped in rags and laid in a manager meant for animals. 

Are we doing the same thing today?  Caught up in the commercialized Christmas with gift giving, work parties, candy & food preparing to even realize, the Christ child is coming.  Are you so busy “wigging-out” on the last minute gifts you need to get at Wal-Mart that you have forgotten the “reason for the season.”   How are you preparing for the celebration of Christ birth?  Sure as Christians we go to church and sing the Christmas hymns, read the Advent readings and light the candles, attend the kids’ Christmas productions and the candlelight services, but what about your attitude outside of the church?  Are you being a CHRISTmas Christian as you prepare for the Christmas season?  Are you taking the time to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas, the Christ-child?  And more importantly is your heart prepared for the second coming of Christ?  Does your attitude reflect the condition of your heart?   Or is the condition of your heart reflected in your attitude???  (OUCH!!)

Many of the signs prophesized about the second coming of Christ are coming to fruition, are we paying attention church or are we like the people of the Old Testament days?  Are we too busy with our daily task to take time to tell others about Christ returning?  Are we a nation sleeping?? 

 

This Christmas season I challenge you to take the time each day to reflect on the Christ-child, the promise of hope carried in the infant Jesus and share that hope with others through your CHRISTmas attitude!!

Called by Christ

Amanda