That Sure Is A Beautiful Tree

I really enjoy driving around during the Christmas season and looking at all of the lights and displays in the yards and on the houses. For one thing, you can get a pretty idea where their heart is by what they have put out for the world to see. Anita loves to decorate and the inside of the house always looks so beautiful. I, on the other hand, am an enjoyer and not a decorator. She would love to have lights strung all over the house, and I did put some lights on two bushes out front this year. Hey, its a start. She also has a way of making the scrawniest, bare little tree look as though it was the pick of the forest. Speaking of trees, I had a man ask me several years ago if having a Christmas tree was wrong, because it did have anything to do with the birth of Christ. I thought for a moment and mentioned to him that usually, the tree that is used is an "evergreen" tree which speaks of the Eternality of Jesus. Even though He took upon Himself temporal flesh, He is still very much Eternal God. It is also decorated or adorned with beautiful objects and in particular, lights. When Jesus came to this earth, He came as the Light of the world and even the different colored lights reminds us that He came for all races of people. He lights the hearts of all mankind. I also mentioned that it is, in fact, a tree. Even though it is Christmas, we must remember that Christ was born to die on a tree for your sins and for mine. We often put a star on the top of the tree which reminds us that Jesus said "If I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto Me". There is more that could be said, but I think you get the picture. It sure is a beautiful tree when you come to think of it.

What A Song

I love music and some of my favorite song are Christmas carols. The other day we sang "The First Noel" and I keep wondering when we are ever going to sing the second Noel. Oh well. I was thinking about the words to the song that the Angels sang on that clear night just outside of Bethlehem, as the shepherds sat in amazement amidst the "Glory of the Lord" that shone round about them. The message that the Angel brought was "Peace on earth, good will toward men". It wasn't that Jesus Christ had come to the earth and that all men would now live in peace one with another. But, rather that man, who is born in sin at enmity with God, and now that the Messiah has come, reconciliation is available to all men who can now have peace with God. This provision of reconciliation is without doubt an act of good will toward mankind. Man could do nothing to provide that reconciliation of himself, but God was gracious and merciful to extend His arm of love and reach down to the depths of sin and save fallen man. The angel had previously said "I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people". The pronouncement of the person was good tidings and the proclamation of the purpose brought great joy. And then to hear a Heavenly Host begin to praise God Almighty. It is no wonder that after seeing the Christ Child, they went everywhere telling people what they had seen and heard. We have not seen all of this with our physical eyes, but through Faith in God's Word, we have seen it with our Spiritual eyes just as clearly. Have we shared the news as they did?

Where Is Everyone?

One thing that has amazed me about the birth of Christ is that it was ignored by the multitudes.
I just don't understand why there wasn't a mass of people gathered around the stable waiting to get in to see the Messiah. Today, if someone thinks they can see the face of Jesus on a piece of toast, people will come from miles around. It wasn't like they didn't know it was about to happen. They had the prophecies from the Old Testament that told them a virgin would conceive and bear a child. They had the testimony of Elizabeth, whose son John, leaped in her womb when Mary came and told her that she was with child of the Holy Spirit. They knew that the child would be born in Bethlehem and knew that Mary and Joseph would come there because of the taxation. Then we have the events that took place out on a hillside as the shepherds watched their sheep. In the quietness of the night came an Angel, a messenger from God Himself, telling that the promise had been kept and the prophecies had been fulfilled. There was singing and praising, as the Glory of God shone round about them. With so many people gathered in that tiny town, you would think that someone would have seen that glorious light and wondered what was going on. Even months later, as Joseph has settled his new family into the Bethlehem area, they were visited by the Magi from the East. Why did these Wise men need to ask directions in Jerusalem? Why was there not a constant flow of people making there way to see God incarnate? I guess the problem then is much like the problem today. People are so wrapped up in their own little world that the miss what God is trying to say to them. It isn't as though the evidence is not right before their very eyes. They simply fail to look to see what is so clearly given. Don't miss the joy of Christmas. Far too many line up to see Santa and far too few are concerned with seeing the Saviour.

Christmas Is Personal

As we consider the accounts of the birth of Christ, recorded bya the Gospel writers, one thing becomes evident. There were more people involved than just Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus. Just to mention a few, there were the Wise men from the East, Herod, who was ruling over Jerusalem when the Wise men came, and of course, the religionists who told them that Jesus had been born in Bethlehem. These were mentioned in Matthews account. Luke, on the other hand tells us of the shepherds that were tending their sheep out in the fields when they heard the voice of an Angel proclaiming the "good news of great joy". A few days later, when Jesus was taken to be circumcised, we see a man named Simeon, who had been waiting for the coming Messiah and now, having seen Him, was ready to die. There was also a widow, named Anna, that had been serving in the Temple since her husband had died, that rejoiced when she saw Jesus.
As we think of all of these, and others, one thing we notice is that each one responded differently to the news of Jesus' birth. The shepherds were frightened by the Angel, while the Wise men became curious when they saw His star in the East. Herod became concerned about the news of a rival King being born and eventually began killing innocent babies to protect himself. Simeon and Anna were near the end of their lives and were ecstatic over the opportunity to see the Messiah with their own eyes. Sadly, those in Jerusalem, who knew of the place of Jesus birth, appeared to have no interest in it at all. My point is very simple. As we consider the news of the birth of Jesus Christ, God's only begotten Son, we will react differently because we are all unique individuals. One thing that we have in common is the fact that we will all stand accountable for the message that we do hear. You see, Christmas really is personal.

What Do You Give To The Person That Has Everything?

That is a question that you occasionally hear around this time of year. Though, not at our house and probably not at yours either. One of the greatest tragedies at Christmas is that we spend so much money buying gifts for others and the One whose birth we celebrate gets nothing.
I heard an very touching story several years ago that certainly fits our subject today.
On a cold crisp December morning, a small boy made his way into the warm church down town. He had never been there before and had no idea what was about to happen, but he quietly made his way down to the very front row. As the service progressed he became more and more interested in what the man standing up on the stage had to say. It seemed as if that stranger knew him, though the little boy was sure they had never met. When the service was finished it was time to take up a special Christmas offering so the ushers came to the front for prayer. As the organist began to play the men with the plates quickly moved from row to row receiving the gifts provided there that day. The usher nearest the little lad had intentionally passed him by, because he didn't think the young boy had anything to give and did not want to embarrass him. But, while the offering was being received, the Pastor notice that the little boy began to cry. After they were finished the Pastor asked the boy if he was alright. "They passed me by" said the fellow, with tears running down his cheeks. Quickly the Pastor responded by saying that they didn't think the little boy had anything to give and asked one of the ushers to come back to the front. When the usher arrived, the small boy, with the big heart, stood to his feet. With great care he reached out and took the offering plate from the man, placed in on the floor and put his little feet in it. With words that could only come from the heart of a child he simply said "I don't have any money to give, but I do want to give myself to Jesus". Needless to say, there wasn't a dry eye in the big auditorium that morning as this small messenger of God spoke volumes with his few words. Now, if you want to know what to give to God, has does everything, just give Him your heart.

What Makes A Gift So Special?

Maybe I'm being a little picky at this time of the year, but I personally think there is a difference between a "gift" and a "present". A present is something that is often given out of obligation rather than desire. Where a gift has some special attachment or meaning to either the giver or the receiver. It provides a personal connection between the two. So, what is it that makes a gift special? I think there are a few things that will help us to understand. First, if it is beautifully wrapped. You can have some gifts that are sloppily covered in paper and some that are ornately wrapped and the latter will be taken before the former. The outside draws us before we ever know what is on the inside. Secondly, I think a gift is special if it is something that the person really wants or needs. Too many times a present is selected at the last moment out of convenience without much thought to the recipient. But, when the gift is something that the person has been wanting or truly needs, what a difference it makes. The third thing that makes a gift special is if the receiver cannot get the gift for themselves. Maybe because of it cost or its availability, it is out of reach, and then to open the beautiful wrappings and find it there is just amazing. The last thing I want to mention that makes a gift special is if it is there on time. Have you ever been anxiously awaiting Christmas because you had this feeling that what you had asked for you were going to receive, only to find out that it wasn't in stock until next week or it got lost in the mail somewhere? It just seems to take the joy out of it when it finally arrives 2 weeks after Christmas. Well, let's think about this for a moment. The gift that God gave to the world was wrapped beautifully in the form of a little baby there in that manger. It was that which everyone needed and could not get for themselves. The cost was much too high and it was completely unattainable. And, even thought Israel had long awaited it's arrival for hundreds of years, it came right on time. For God so loved the world that He gave the most special gift of Salvation just to you.

Giving and Receiving

Jesus said that it is more blessed to give than to receive. Most of us want to make sure that someone out there gets a blessing and we are willing to endure being the receiver so they can. It is a terrible job, but someone has to do it. Right? Anyway, there is obvious truth in that statement because Jesus, the very Son of God, made it and by simple practice we know it first hand. As a child growing up, we couldn't wait until Christmas morning so we could jump down under the tree and see what was under there for us. Then, as we got older, it was more difficult to please us and the joy of receiving seemed to slip away. Then, we became parents again and the real joy of Christmas began. Now, we are on the giving end of the deal and couldn't be happier. Our delight is to sit back and watch as our kids scramble to the tree and begin to devour the beautiful decorated gifts like a bunch of wild dogs fighting over a bone. And you had better not get in the way unless you life insurance is paid up. Just to hear the squeals of delight and to see the expressions on their faces is gift enough for us. Well then, if we happen to get something from them, then that is just icing on the cake. It is at this time, as we kick back and see just how much they appreciate what they have received, (though they may never say it) that we begin to understand how God must feel when we finally unwrap the Truth and see the precious gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, Who died for our sins and with great joy and delight receive it. Yes, it is more blessed to give than to receive. So give the gift of eternal life this year to someone who really needs it.