I LOVE CHRISTMAS. I love giving presents. I love getting presents. I love Michael Buble and Faith Hill’s Christmas CDs (Yes, CD). I love peppermint mocha creamer and Holiday Blend Coffee. I love watching Christmas movies (Elf is my favorite). I love lights, Christmas cards, and dressing up my pets in festive attire (Did you know it is called Buffalo Plaid?). I love Christmas Eve candlelight services, and all the Christmas hymns. We have had Christmas songs playing and our decor up since before Thanksgiving. Normally, we wait each year to get into the festive spirit until after Thanksgiving so we can enjoy one holiday at a time, but this year made us want the Christmas magic a little earlier. So we poured our Peppermint Mocha coffee in our red and green Christmas mugs, lit the Spruce candle, and began our trek from the attic with Christmas decorations in tow... in November.
With everything around us that “looks” like Christmas, it makes me wonder how we often forget the meaning and purpose behind it that we can’t see. The literal “light of the world”, and we totally miss it. In the hustle and bustle, the gift exchanges, and parties, we overlook that Jesus was born to a regular woman, in a dirty manger, but was the most priceless gift of all. I’ve met parents who don’t really partake in Santa “visiting” their kids because they really want to emphasize that it is about the gift of Jesus, and not ourselves and what gifts we get. I really respect this because in our busy world we forget to take the time to reflect on the simplest, yet most complex gift we have ever received, baby Jesus. He should be our ultimate “reason for the season”. I am not a mom, but I really want to be one day, and I have been thinking about how Mary handled receiving this most precious gift. How she might’ve felt, and what she might’ve said. It got me thinking, as wondrous as a gift that she received, there must’ve been a tornado of emotions rolling around in her head. She had to walk around town with a growing belly, no husband, listening to the whispers of her neighbors and friends. How lonely and embarrassing that must’ve been. But if she had stayed lingering in her own feelings, instead of in the glory of God and what He was doing through her, how we may have had a very different story.
The thing I love about Mary, is that when that angel came to her and said, “Oh, by the way you will be pregnant with the son of God”, even though she had never known a man, she didn’t even fight it (Luke 1.26-38). She didn’t argue with him. She asked one simple question: “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1.34). Fair enough, I think. The Bible says, “Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be” (Luke 1.29), but she never showed much resistance. If it were me, I would be ready to throw up and refuse knowing in this exceptionally conservative time that I would have to explain to my family and betrothed that I am not a harlot, even though all the evidence was against me. She didn’t though. She took it like a champ, and surrendered her plan for His. She was going to take the shame of being pregnant without a husband, the disappointment of Joseph, and the monumental task of birthing the Savior of the world, onto her shoulders for the sake of God’s bigger plan.
The angel that came to Mary said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you!” (Luke 1.28). I think these are sweet words, but I don’t know if in that moment it comforted her all that much. As children of God we know things. We are taught things. Taught to believe certain things about God. That we are favored and chosen, but sometimes that doesn’t matter. We don’t want the task He lays before us. We don’t want our faith to be tested. We don’t feel like we are worthy of God’s goodness and grace in our lives. We are A-okay in our own comfortability. I’m sure Mary had a plan for her life that was nice and cozy until Gabriel came down and rerouted her. In the blink of an eye, her plan became God’s, and there were no if, and, or buts about it. She completely surrendered. She could’ve said:
But I am just a child.
But I am not good enough.
But I am afraid.
But I am just ordinary.
But I have other plans.
But I don’t want this.
Instead she said to the angel, “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Luke 1.38
She trusted in God’s plan, and knew that no matter what happened He would keep her safe and see it through.
John 3.19-21 “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly what he has done has been done through God.”
Why do we know that God is good for us, the BEST THING for us, but still choose darkness in deed or word? Now I am not just talking about living in sin, but our MINDS! We often let Satan’s voice, or our own insecurities divert us from the life and plan God has for our lives. We “kind of” surrender to the light of the world, but we also want to live one foot in the darkness. It is different for everyone. Some would say they have overcome addictions and now they follow Christ, so they must live in the light. You go to church or call yourself a Christian, but speak poorly about others, but you are still “living in the light”. You stopped doing a number of vices like lying, cheating, gambling, drinking, binge eating, or impulse shopping, so you must live in the light. These are all great things to regulate or stop entirely, but what about your mind? Does controlling your thoughts also not help you truly live in God’s light?
You can be a Christian, “live in the light” per say, but then still let Satan creep in with his lies that control your mind and fears in your heart, which is still one foot in the dark. We profess our faith in God with one side of our mouth, but then speak the opposites of His truth and believe the opposite of what His words says. We believe He is in control of our lives, and then abundantly talk of the fears we have. We believe He has a plan, but then lay at night worrying over the uncertainties. Galatians 5.1 “It is freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery.” We are free from our past, addictions, shame, but every once in a while we believe it when Satan tells us how we aren’t good or worthy enough. The worst one for me are those lies that I believe about myself that Satan whispers in the dark. When I am all alone….When I try a new opportunity to serve...When I try to share Jesus with a friend...When I know I am not the smartest or best... When I do anything new...When I share my story…
None of these things are comfortable and certain all of the time, but neither was bringing the Savior into the world. But I think Mary got to the point of laughing in Satan’s face every time he tried to plant that seed of doubt in her, and her fears all melted away when she held that precious baby for the first time...
Psalm 27.1-3 says, “The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.”
Christmas this year may not be wonderful for everyone, as we reflect on what and who we may have lost, but our confidence can rest in the true light of the world that was born in a lowly manger to save us. He wasn’t a king, or someone that was wealthy. There wasn’t a fireworks show, or some grand party for His coming. It was a simple. Beautiful. Christmas. Without presents, parties, or a crowd. It meant the whole world though.
1 Peter 2.9 “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wondrous light.” Truly believe you are God’s child, chosen, and worthy. Choose to live in the light.
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