Here's where He has me. What is it about Christmas that makes it merry? Family? Friends? Gifts? Food? Traditions? Decorations? Toys? Santa? Rudolph? Manger scenes? Christmas Pageants? Although, all of these are wonderful, they are not what makes Christmas merry. They are results of the ultimate cause of merriment. I think the old carol reveals the answer to my question.
O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant!
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him, born the King of Angels.
O come let us adore Him!
O come let us adore Him!
O come let us adore Him!
Christ The LORD!
Jesus is really what makes Christmas merry. I know that sounds cheesy, but don't stop reading. It's not a trite thing, this "adoring" Him. It is the reason you were born and it can be the most satisfying experience of your life to learn to love Him. Not just go to church. Not just be good and keep the ten commandments. Not just live by the golden rule. I mean love Him! This may sound a bit mystical to you...well it is.
"God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and truth." -John 4:24 (ESV)
You see, God is well aware that our desire for satisfaction drives almost every decision we make. He is also aware that He, Himself, is the most satisfying thing in the universe. So God commands us throughout His word to glorify God. I know, it sounds self-centered and egotistical of God to continually demand that we give Him glory, but it is the most loving act possible. Here's why. He is also aware that nothing else will satisfy us like Him.
NOTHING!
I stand on a platform in a bible believing church week in and week out and lead worship, and when I look in people's faces, I honestly wonder if God's people will ever really get this. There are obviously exceptions, but as a whole, I don't think we do. We read commands like "Rejoice in the LORD always" (Philippians 4:4), or "O taste and see that the LORD is good!" (Psalm 34:8) and we obviously make them mean something other than what they say, or maybe we just don't think they carry the same weight as "do not lie" or "do not steal your neighbors wife!" If we get a taste of Him, we will rejoice!
Question: Do we really love God? Think about it, if you rejoiced in your spouse like you rejoice in God, would he/she be confident in your love? I realize this is not a typical warm and fuzzy Christmas message, but God is calling us out. He is reminding us that even when He came as a baby, the response of those who "got it" was rejoicing (Luke 1:44, 46-47; 2:10, 20, Matthew 2:10).
Now here is where the excuses will begin. Jon, I am just not an emotional person. Jon, I just don't feel comfortable with external demonstrations of emotion. Jon, I am more of a thinker than a feeler. Jon, I don't want to be fanatical or anything...Well...God made you. He understands how you are wired. He knows your heart. I must say, though, even in my limited experience with people, I have never met anyone (that I remember) who didn't get excited about something in their lives. It might be a sports team or it might be their grandchildren or children. It might be food or it might be movies. It might be reading or it might be music. I could go on and on, but you get the point.
Here's the bottom line. Jesus said, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment." -Matthew 22:37-38 (ESV)
What would obedience to this command look like in your life? When we begin to understand and embrace this radical idea of loving God, it will change us forever. Life will become an adventure for us, and God will use us to change the world.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
~Jon
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