Judges 4:1-5:31; Luke 22:35-53; Psalm 94:1-23; Proverbs 14:3-4
“Why did you sit at home among the sheepfolds—to hear the shepherds whistle for their flocks?
Yes, in the tribe of Reuben there was great indecision.
Gilead remained east of the Jordan.
And why did Dan stay home?
Asher sat unmoved at the seashore,
remaining in his harbors.”
“’Why are you sleeping?’ he asked them. ‘Get up and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation.’”
“’The Lord isn’t looking,’ they say, ‘and besides, the God of Israel doesn’t care.’ Think again, you fools! When will you finally catch on?
Is he deaf—the one who made your ears? Is he blind—the one who formed your eyes?”
“An empty stable stays clean, but no profit comes from an empty stable.”
The Night of Nights is finally here! Blessings and peace to those wise enough to follow the Star! Scripture is correct that there’s no profit in an empty stable, but neither is there any benefit from an unvisited manger or an unacknowledged guest amongst the animals. Yet, many of us remain undecided about whether to make the pilgrimage to Bethlehem, as we have been year after year. We’re pretty content with the way things are. If we’re not, we’re still mostly comfortable with the boundaries we’ve established for our lives. Really meeting Jesus face-to-face and kneeling down to worship Him could change things. He’s not likely to leave us as He finds us. Lines of authority could blur if not shift all together. Allegiances and priorities could switch. Besides, it’s a long way from where we live our day-to-day lives to the Manger. Seems the trip would be a lot of work and probably be disruptive of our envisioned futures to boot. Maybe it’s just not worth all the effort to get worked up over….
So men and women have rationalized - and been grossly mistaken - for centuries. As but one illustration, I once invited a friend to a very special weekend retreat. During the weekend, more often than not and in a way I still cannot comprehend, the Living Christ Incarnate actually shows up and is tangibly present to bless, cry and laugh with, and mainly love on His adopted sons and daughters. Don’t fret; I’m not talking apparitions or visions here. I’m talking about Christ in the world, the Body of Christ, Jesus in us. The Walk to Emmaus uses the love and support of Christ’s living Body, His Church, to show the “pilgrims” how special and loved they are by God, as well as their brothers and sisters in the faith. It is a deeply spiritual time and can be life changing. So, how did my friend respond? “I like my life. I don’t want to change. Thanks, but no thanks.”
Whether we admit it or not, facing the pilgrimage to Bethlehem every December 24th, too many of us make the same choice to simply, politely decline God’s invitation to a living relationship with Him. We decide not to risk the change which would confront us there. Sometimes, we do not even recognize we are making an actual choice. After all, the decorations are up, the feast is prepared, the family is gathered, and we go to church. We think we’re ready for Christmas. But make no mistake: not to affirmatively choose to kneel in the muck and inconvenience of Jesus’ stable first is itself a decision that actually weighs against Christmas. It is really a decision to avoid Christ. He simply cannot be our Savior if He is not first the undisputed Lord of our lives. So, a refusal to stop and kneel truly is a decision to reject the Gift of Christmas.
Many of us spend a lot of time, if we think about it at all, bemoaning the “lost” Spirit of Christmas. The Good News is, it isn’t lost at all! It’s right where it has always been: in the obscurity of the overlooked and undervalued; in the decision to give preeminence to something other than ourselves; and in a place that is, undeniably, off the beaten path and down a long and sometimes difficult road. But it is a place from which Jesus Himself still beckons to those willing to pay attention. He still offers Himself to those who would partake and be made new in His image. The question is, what on earth is worth so desperately holding onto that we would refuse His invitation?
2 comments:
24 Dec
Bibleblogger, thanks again for your insights. It is fun to try to add new things to the Christmas season and like you I believe that only an hour or two can make a huge difference. We have an Advent book with cool pictures and a door on each page that sequentially tells Luke’s version of the Christmas Story. It has become tradition at our home to read the book from the start each night of advent and end on the current day. It is fun and the kids have certain days they like to read…like their birthday, or the page with the coolest looking door or the page that says the baby Jesus was clothed with strips of cloth…because they can substitute “swaddling clothes” and giggle. Just a daily devotion that take about 2 minutes at the start of the month and about 10 on Christmas Day. Last night we had friends over for a Christmas Eve - Eve get together and we had fun and the kids stayed up a bit too late. So when it came time for bed our 7 year old said lets read the Advent book….and I said it’s too late let’s do it tomorrow. She wouldn’t hear of it and really wanted the tradition to not be broken. I “won” and we all went to bed. I am not upset about my decision but I am moved by what I think is a “duty” or a “job” is often viewed by others as “commitment” or a way of life. The sacrifices we make, like your visit to the Memorial Service, is an opportunity for God to do something positive. You did it as a sacrifice but others, like myself, look at it as a new opportunity or a “why didn’t I think of that” moment. The repetitiveness of our Advent book makes it ok in my mind to skip a day….but am I missing the “convenient sacrifice” message I am sending my family? I NEED to read that book. My daughter WANTS to read it...and I would guess that God is way more impressed with her than me…because her attitude is motivating the rest of us! Do you think she knows what she’s taught me? Gotta go, I think I hear the girl and The Book coming down the hall! Merry Christmas Bibleblogger and your readers. Thom
Thom, you bring back memories! I never had the self discipline to wait until Christmas to open the all-important double window of Christmas on our Advent calendars. I'd make a tradition of sneaking in and peeking every year. Thankfully, Jesus was always there!
Hey, here's a Christmas thought for you: when did "sacrifice" and "opportunity" get to be antonyms? I'd say they are synonyms, in fact, especially at Christmas.
Finally, if Christmas is about anything, it's about expectations and rules not binding God. I won't dare get into your specifics. I would only say that, as long as you were letting Christ lead, you did the right thing. If not, not. Pretty simple, huh? And yet, it's ofttimes really hard just to stop and listen, isn't it? Our opinions and watches can get all tangled up with what's important until we cannot tell the difference. Check out the Christmas blog for some additional thoughts on this.
Thom, I give daily thanks for your friendship, interest and insights. May God grant you and yours all the blessings of the Season.
Peace,
Tom
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