christianity

workplace woes

Posted on by Grace Day

“So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.’ . . . God saw all that He had made, and it was very good.” (Genesis 1:27-28 & 31) 

“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” (Genesis 2:15)

Doesn’t this sound like such a good plan for living a meaningful, purposeful life. God put us, humans, in charge of all He created. We were to oversee and care for all the plants and all the animals and to “be fruitful and multiply.” In this perfect, sinless world, mankind was given a perfect plan and a perfect purpose, courtesy of our all-wise Maker. We were also given free will – the gift of the freedom to make our own choices. This would ultimately prove to be our downfall. You and I were created for communion and harmony with each other and with our Creator, God. In the garden, Adam and Eve enjoyed both of these things. But from chapter one of Genesis to chapter three, something happens which causes things to take a drastic turn. With one decision, everything becomes dramatically different, but not for the better. 

Work was one of those things that changed drastically. Once a source of purpose and pleasure, a way to use our talents and to help others – work now became something difficult and painful. The following words describe Adam and Eve’s new, irrevocably altered reality.

“To the woman He (God) said, ‘I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.’ “ (Genesis 3:16)  

“To Adam He (God) said, ‘Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat of it,’ ‘Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.’ “ (Genesis 3:17-19) 

Originally, work was not a curse nor was work a punishment. Work was one of God’s many good gifts. However, work became cursed along with everything else, when Eve and Adam chose their own way over God’s good plan for them, thus ushering in sin and separation from their Holy Creator, who cannot look upon sin. God cast them out of the garden, but in His great mercy, not before He made them clothes to wear to cover their nakedness. 

Today, we still struggle with work and its place in our lives. No matter our vocation, we still feel as if we are toiling away, earning a living by “the sweat of our brow.” We don’t think of work today as one of God’s good gifts. We may think of work as what we have to do in order to earn a living and in the process work often becomes our identity and our purpose in life. When this is true, losing our jobs (or retirement) often causes us to lose our purpose and our identity, just as we may feel our identities and life purposes changing with every job change we experience. 

However, when our true identity and our true purpose are found in knowing our Creator and living according to His good plan and purpose for our lives, our identity and purpose are not constantly in flux. Jobs will come and go, but we are always who God made us to be. We are made in His image. We are created for His purposes. And His purposes are always good.

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)

Searching for that elusive perfect job continues to be quite common among those I know and among people in general it seems. So many people are unhappy in their workplaces and desire to find other employment, even if they aren’t sure exactly what that “dream job” would be. We hear a lot about the “toxic workplace” today. This seems to be code for having a difficult or demanding boss or for having coworkers that are hard to get along with for whatever reason. In the world of work, the grass always seems to be greener in the other workplaces, until we get there and find out that it was an illusion all along. All jobs have their challenges and their rewards, there is no perfect job. But Paul had some good advice, which he shared in Colossians, saying this –

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (Colossians 3:23-24)

This change in perspective certainly makes a difference in how I view my work and the people in my workplace every day. If I am looking to my work and to the people I work with, to provide me with validation, fulfillment, meaning and purpose, I will ultimately be disappointed. Working to please other people or myself cannot provide all those things. But working to please and to honor my Heavenly Father most certainly gives me all those things and more.       

Work is one of the many ways I can serve God in this world today. Work is honorable – all honest work is honorable. Our culture may value some jobs more than others as evidenced by the differences in how much the workers are paid. But what this world values and what God values are very different. In Ephesians I read –

“He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.” (Ephesians 4:28)

So I work not just for myself or my own gain, but in order that I can be generous with others who have need and, in this way, bring honor and glory to God. In God’s economy, the value of my work is not determined by the size of my paycheck. Nor is my personal worth dictated by the sum of my salary. I spend much time and energy looking for and longing for that perfect job, wanting to be sure I’ve found “my calling”, when in reality, God can use me in whatever work environment I am in, if I choose to “work as unto Him” and not myself or the people around me. There are no insignificant jobs in God’s eyes. David, whose current job was being king of Israel, said this –

“I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.” (Psalm 84:10)   

No job today is without its share of workplace woes. That’s probably why so many individuals complain about the stresses of their current jobs, why so many seem to be continually searching for a new and different job that they hope will be better, and why so many quit their jobs, even without the prospect of something else. Working to please a human boss or other people will never satisfy us or provide us the purpose that we need in our lives. 

It is possible for us to find the validation, fulfillment, meaning and purpose we so desire without changing workplaces. (since every workplace has its own peculiar set of woes, specific to itself) I find that when I change my focus, my work takes on new meaning and eternal significance, not recognized by the world, but nonetheless bestowed by God. All work can become a divine assignment. Consider what Paul said in his letter to the Corinthians –

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

whatever I do? – “doing it all for the glory of God” – that would most definitely include work!

sincerely,  Grace Day  

  

packing away the party

Posted on by Grace Day

That’s what I’ve been doing during these dreary gray days following the birthday bash the world just threw for the baby in the manger – aka the King of kings, Creator of the universe, God’s Son, Jesus. As always, it was quite a celebration complete with lots of lights (inside and out), merry music nonstop, plenty of presents (thanks to out of control consumerism) fabulous food, including Christmas cookies of every kind and fruitcake? and dazzling decorations everywhere you looked. 

But when the cookies are all gone, the music goes silent, the lights go out, all the presents are unwrapped (no more surprises, no more anticipation) there is nothing left to do but to pack away all the decorations that adorned my home during this season of celebration that has now come to an end. I kind of get used to the Santas and the Nativities and the wreaths and the candles and the tree and the stockings etc. during the month of Advent. I become attached to them and so have been reluctant to pack them away again, even though the party is clearly over. They will leave empty spaces and I will miss them.

So I have procrastinated parting with them, packing them away a few at a time rather than all at once. (I guess this is the opposite of ripping the bandage off completely in one swift motion, rather than prolonging the pain by peeling it off slowly) I chose the latter, so my melancholy has been prolonged in this after the party month we call January. Now January is supposed to be the month of new beginnings and resolutions. That means looking forward, not backward. Perhaps this packing away of the party is painful precisely because it keeps me looking backwards? 

Still out are my Zambian Nativity, complete with added Santas and a striped Pixie, and my kitchen windowsill Nativity with Santa bowing at the manger and decor displaying the words “peace”, “joy” and “hope.” Those words aren’t just Christmas words. I want them to be part of my life everyday, not just on holidays or special occasions. Jesus is the Prince of Peace and the angel did tell the shepherds – “I bring you glad tidings of great joy.” And of course, hope has been my word for the year two years running now and I see no reason to give it up for another word at this point. Hope is what keeps me going during the darkest, most difficult times. Hope is the light at the end of the tunnel, the anchor during the storm, the promise of what is to come.

As one of my favorite Christmas songs, “Because of Bethlehem” says about Jesus’s birth, “love is born, hope is here, . . . God with us all because of Bethlehem.” Jesus’s arrival here on earth brought hope for all mankind, hope for each and every one of us in every generation – hope for forgiveness and reconciliation with our Holy Creator God – hope for healing, redemption, restoration – hope for an eternal life with our Savior, Jesus. In fact, Jesus said to His disciples this - 

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in Me. In My Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am.” (John 14:1-3) 

Now that’s a reason to have hope! Jesus came – the reason for the party in the first place – and Jesus is coming back again to take me to be with Him. So today as I continue packing away the party, I think I’ll leave my “peace,” “joy” and “hope” words in my windowsill just a little while longer. I want to take these words with me into this new year. The birthday party may be over but the “after party” has just begun, and while it’s not as advertised and commercialized as the main event, the after party is an adventure, a daily adventure, worth pursuing.

We typically pack away the decorations when the party is over, but we don’t pack away the gifts we received and opened during the celebration. The gifts are ours to use and to enjoy long after the party has ended and been properly packed away. God gave you and me the gift of His only Son, Jesus. Jesus gives us His gifts of peace, joy and hope. I do not want to take these gifts for granted in this new year. Nor do I want to pack them away and forget about them. When I am anxious and sad and despairing, I want to remember that I have been given the gifts of peace, joy and hope. Gifts that I can take with me and experience new every day as I leave the celebration of Advent behind, but take Advent’s gifts with me into this new year. I will not make the mistake of packing away Jesus’s gifts of peace, joy and hope. Jesus told His disciples –

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

King David said this –

“You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.” (Psalm 116:11)

And I love these words of Isaiah, which remind me just what hope in God does –

“but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)

With God’s good gifts I can peacefully, joyfully soar on wings of hope in this new year! Impossible?

“Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’ “ (Matthew 19:26) 

sincerely,  Grace Day 

     

every day is new year’s day

Posted on by Grace Day

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us (I will) rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24)

While today is officially New Year’s Day for me and for you, according to our calendars, it occurs to me that every day is new year’s day with God, because every day He gives me a clean slate, a new beginning, a do-over, another second chance. These words in Lamentations assure me of this truth saying –

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)

I love that God’s mercies to me are “new every morning”, just like the manna in the dessert was for the Israelites. They didn’t need to store it up, every morning God provided what they needed for that day regardless of what had happened the day before. No matter how badly they had behaved, had missed the mark or fallen short, God still came through for them with the provision of the manna “new every morning.” Just an example of how faithful God is in spite of our own human inconsistencies. His word tells us as much –

“if we are faithless, He will remain faithful, for He cannot disown Himself.” (2 Timothy 2:13)

I am grateful for the clean slate of each and every new day God gives me. As today is drawing to a close, I realize with some disappointment that I may have already failed to live up to all the good intentions I had in mind for today, but tomorrow is a new day – another new year’s day, so to speak, allowing me to start fresh again tomorrow with the sunrise. Every day is a gift from my Heavenly Father. Each new day is as full of promise, potential and purpose as the day we set aside as being that special day once a year. Every day really is New Year’s Day for me - a day that God has given to me, a day I can make the most of if I so choose, a day I can choose to live to the full.

Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10) 

Today I am grateful for all the opportunities and challenges that this day brought me. There were some doors I did not open, some things I left undone BUT – tomorrow is a new day, a day the Lord has made. I will make this Psalm my prayer this New Year’s Day –

“Teach me to number my days aright, that I may gain a heart of wisdom. . . . Satisfy me in the morning with Your unfailing love, that I may sing for joy and be glad all my days.” (Psalm 90:12 & 14)

happy new year world! today, tomorrow and every day, every day a new day, every day a new opportunity to know God better, every day another chance to do something good in His name, every day a gift from God –

sincerely,  Grace Day  

 

  

the Communion table – a Christmas table

Posted on by Grace Day

The Communion table is a table of commemoration and a table of celebration. It is a table at which we are each invited to dine. Known for being a “Last Supper” kind of a table – the Communion table is a Christmas or an Advent table among the many other things that it also is. It is a Christmas table because we celebrate that Christ came, even as we simultaneously acknowledge that we are looking forward to His return.

“For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given.” (Isaiah 9:6)

“For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” (1 Corinthians 11:26)

The Communion table is a Thanksgiving table.

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15)

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.” (Psalm 106:1)

The Communion table is an Independence Day table.

“for we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin – because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.” (Romans 6:6-7)

Isaiah said he was sent to “proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from darkness for the prisoners.” (Isaiah 61:1)

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36)

“it is for freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)

The Communion table is a family table.

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1) 

The Communion table is a table of acceptance.

“All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and whoever comes to Me, I will never drive away.” (John 6:37)

The Communion table is a table of provision.

“Abraham answered, ‘God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.’ “ (Genesis 22:8)

“and my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

The Communion table is a table of plenty.

“Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me will never go hungry, and he who believes in Me will never be thirsty.’ “ (John 6:35)

“They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish.” (Mark 6:42-43)

The Communion table is a table of promise.

” ‘Come now, let us reason together,’ says the Lord. ’Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.’ “ (Isaiah 1:18)

The Communion table is a table of healing.

“But He was pierced for our transgressions, the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5) 

The Communion table is a table of hope.

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die.’ “ (John 11:25-26)

The Communion table is a table of infinite mercy. 

“He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him, as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on His children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.” (Psalm 103: 10-13)

The Communion table is a table of sacrifice.

“Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, . . . But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him,” (Isaiah 53:4-5)

“Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:2)

The Communion table is a table of redemption.

“and with Your blood You purchased men for God.” (Revelation 5:9)

The Communion table is a table of miracles.

“The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here. He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay.” (Matthew 28:6-7)

The Communion table is a table of victory.

“Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where O death is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? . . . thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:54-57)

The Communion table is a table of life.

“He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5:12)

Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)

The Communion table is a table of love.

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

“I am the Good Shepherd . . . and I lay down My life for the sheep. . . . No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord.” (John 10:14-18)

When we come to the Communion table, we are invited into Christmas, Thanksgiving, freedom, family, and acceptance. The Communion table is a place of provision, of plenty, of promise, of healing, of hope, of mercy, and of redemption. Communion is a meal made possible by sacrifice, specifically by the sacrificial gift God gave to us at Christmas, the gift of His only Son, Jesus, who became the perfect sacrifice for my sins and for your sins, who gave His life that you and I might live. 

The Communion table truly is a table of miracles, of victory over sin and death. It is a table full of life and of love. And miracle of miracles, you and I, and each and every person, have a seat at this table. We are invited to participate in the Communion that is the Lord’s Supper. The choice is ours. The Communion Table is open to all.

“The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood; (which is poured out for you – Luke 22:20) do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’ For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

I am so grateful to be invited to participate in this Communion meal, a meal full of hope and of promise – the hope and promise I so long for as I enter into this new year –

sincerely,  Grace Day 

    

 

Advent’s answer

Posted on by Grace Day

Who is this baby in the manger, that He makes the angels sing?

Who is this baby in the manger, that He makes the heavens ring?

Who is this baby in the manger, that wise men leave their homes?

That shepherds shout hosana, the King is on His throne!

Who is this baby in the manger, that the world should rejoice His birth?

Who is this baby in the manger, that He brings such joy to earth?

Who is this baby in the manger, so filled with truth and grace,

that Wise Men traveled long and far, just to behold His face? 

Who is this baby in the manger, that He fills our darkness with His light?

this baby who will one day heal the sick, and give the blind their sight?

Who is this baby in the manger, that He brings the world such love?

He’s the Holy King, the Prince of Peace, He’s the Son of God above!

His reign shall be forever, His kingdom know no end,

He will come in power and glory, when He comes to earth again.

Now I know the baby in the manger, I know why the angels sing,

They sing for the babe in the manger, who is Jesus, the Heavenly King! 

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:11-12)

sincerely,  Grace Day 

happy birthday Baby!

Posted on by Grace Day

“The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel – which means, ‘God with us.’ “ (Matthew 1:23)

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ “ (Luke 2:10-12)

Happy Birthday, Baby and welcome to our world –

angels announced Your arrival, the stars in the heavens unfurled

to welcome You on that Silent Night when all creation sang –

across the hills of Bethlehem such good tidings rang!

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given.”

bearing witness to the long-awaited miracle of Your birth –

Immanuel, God with us, our Redeemer come to earth.

You left Your home in glory, to make Your home with men,

We were not worthy, still You came, to take away our sin.

God’s gift to me in the manger lay, over two-thousand years ago –

this same gift is offered me still today, I dare not let it go

unacknowledged, unwrapped, ungratefully unreceived,

this gift of God will change my life, if only I believed.

in the power of the Baby in the manger to bring a dying world life,

to bring His light into our darkness and His peace into our strife. 

“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.’ “ (Luke 2:14) 

Oh, Immanuel, Immanuel! You have come to rescue and redeem the lost.

How glad I am that you came for me, Your love overcoming all cost.

“He humbled Himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross!” (Phil. 2:8)

Oh, happy birthday, Baby – I’m so glad you came!

I will celebrate Your birthday and forever praise Your name!

“Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11)

Your birth changed the world forever, bringing us hope and truth and grace,

So we celebrate Your birthday, the day true love found its face.

“We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

sincerely,  Grace Day 

Advent – has the lead been buried?

Posted on by Grace Day

Birthday parties are really fun celebrations. I think back on my own children’s birthday parties and they were always important events that we celebrated with much planning, preparation and anticipation. My children were also guests at numerous birthday parties during those years. These birthdays were celebrated in a variety of ways. Roller skating or bowling were both popular activities with which to celebrate the birthday, as were Build a Bear and Chuck E Cheese as venues. The birthday was celebrated with food and gifts before the final activity of singing to the birthday child, whereafter he or she would blow out the candles on their birthday cake and every guest got to eat some of the coveted cake. Not only did the guests partake of the cake, they were also sent home with goodie bags, containing gifts for themselves even though it wasn’t their birthday. 

Now depending upon how big these parties were and whether it was one where the whole class was invited, the party guests had varying degrees of relationship with the person who had issued the invitation, the person whose birthday was actually being celebrated. But even if a particular guest did not know the person well whose birthday was being celebrated, they could still participate fully in all the activities surrounding the event, such as skating, enjoying the food, singing and eating cake and hanging out with friends at the same party doing the same thing. They didn’t really have to know who they were celebrating in order to enjoy all the various aspects of the party. Maybe it was more about the party than the person anyway?

As adults we may also be guests at events where we don’t know the person being celebrated all that well. It may be a work event honoring a coworker we don’t know personally. But that doesn’t stop us from participating in the festivities, enjoying the food and the fun, even though we have no personal connection to who is being recognized. After all, who doesn’t love a good party? 

I’m thinking this may describe the season and the celebration of Advent we are in today. Christmas is celebrated around the world in many different ways by many different cultures. Christmas is a birthday party – a world wide party celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. The name of the holiday literally means “Christ’s mass” or “Christ’s celebration”. That should be a clue right there as to who we are honoring at this party we call Christmas. The guest list for this party is all inclusive. Everyone is invited to come and to celebrate God’s gift to the world of His only Son.

“For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on HIs shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.” (Isaiah 9:6-7) 

This is really good news! No wonder the month of December around the world is one big birthday party celebration, observed with different foods and customs in different parts of the world – but celebrated nonetheless. We are celebrating the birth of God’s Son, Jesus, the promised Messiah for all mankind. 

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

We may come to this birthday party bearing a gift for the Christ child, like the Wise Men did, when they brought their gifts to Jesus. But if we accept the goodie bag given to us freely at this birthday party, we receive the gift of eternal life. That’s a pretty good gift to take away from this celebration. 

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) 

Everyone receives an invitation to this birthday party and everyone is offered a goodie bag prepared just for them. There are no exclusions. 

“The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

People all over the world fully participate in all the activities surrounding the celebration of Christ’s birth, despite the fact they don’t know Him personally. We decorate, we bake cookies, we put up Christmas trees, we give and receive gifts, we sing the songs of the season – which include everything from “Glory to the newborn King”, to “Santa Clause is coming to town” to “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas.” Some of these songs, such as “The First Noel”, remind us of the miraculous event that happened two-thousand twenty-three years ago, the birth of the Savior, which we are still celebrating today.  

As I write this, the global birthday party is in full swing. People are only too happy to be invited to participate in all the festivities, fun and food. But many participate in the party without ever coming into contact with the guest of honor. And when the celebration draws to a close, they leave the party without their goodie bag. They don’t receive the gift that was offered to them, the gift made possible by the coming of the Christ Child. How sad to attend the party, never meet the guest of honor and then leave empty handed. 

In our culture, the lead certainly has become buried in the celebration of Christmas. Oh, there are still some clues for those who have eyes to see. Stars or angels atop Christmas trees are symbols of the night of Jesus’s birth. It was an angel who appeared to the shepherds in the field, giving them the good news that Jesus had been born. And it was a special star that guided the three Wise Men on their long journey to find Jesus and worship Him. 

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ “ (Luke 2:8-12)

This is the lead that has been buried beneath all the festivities of the birthday party of the King. ”Unto us a child is given, unto us a Son is born,” “a Savior has been born to you!” to us, to you and to me! Our promised Redeemer has come, hope has entered into our hopeless world. 

“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

Immanuel, God with us, this is the lead that today is buried beneath our cultural customs attached to this birthday party. There are so many fun activities for us to do, that we really don’t have any extra time to seek out the guest of honor and get to know Him. It wasn’t any different on that first Christmas – the lead was buried then also. The people were looking for a powerful, political king with a crown to deliver them from Roman oppression. So they overlooked the helpless baby in the manger, except for the shepherds, who listened to the angel and followed his instructions to go and worship the newborn King. The rest of the world went on with business as usual, not realizing the miracle that had taken place in their very midst.

This Advent season I don’t want the lead to be buried. I am celebrating a miracle. God has come and He’s coming again. The angel brought “good news of great joy for All people.” That’s a reason to celebrate. God came here to redeem His people. That includes you and me, dear readers. ”Let every heart prepare Him room.” I want to be ready when He comes. Advent is all about preparing to receive the coming King.

“Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is He, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty – He is the King of glory.” (Psalm 24:7-10)

sincerely,  Grace Day