~ A Birthday Is Coming – I Am waiting

I love this time of year. Not because of the advertisements, nor for the consumerist excitement, and not because of the prospect of presents on the 25th of December.
I love this time of year for the simple reason that a birthday is coming. It is the anticipation of God’s greatest present to mankind that excites me and that without realizing it all people are being surrounded musically with the news of Fathers goodness to us.
Now there is much in the season that has been changed or twisted to take away from the God Factor. I recognize this as an expectable and regrettable fact. I realize that if there is no resistance to the Jesus story then God will get all the glory. Unfortunately in this world condemned to self and against God that will never do, and this is why I find what happens at this time pregnant with possibilities.
There is more to the story than Christmas music being piped through the stores, there is an atmosphere that pervades peoples thinking which extends their focus and generosity to others.
I cannot speak for the rest of the world but in Australia there is a tradition whereby “some of the heathen will arrive at church twice a year, Christmas and at Easter”. It is no doubt a truism, rather than truth. However the possibility still remains that some may darken the doorway of a church and in the process may be impacted by the love of God.
Christmas is, indeed, God’s Festival, it is the birthday of His Son. As such this is a time when the love and power of God can move mightily among mankind. As I say it is God’s festival, but it is also imperative upon us that we take seriously our responsibility, as God’s hands and feet, to be the storytellers of the truth of what the Chris-is-born celebration that is coming, not just the ones to speak the truth, but also those who demonstrate God’s love.
Songs and music, even carols, have little meaning to the spirit of man unless there is an emotional or physical experience associated with them. While God is always Sovereign, He has chosen to delegate to His believers the task of expressing His love to others, and being His people so that others may see the reality of God.
This is the challenge of Christmas 2010. We are needed to be the People of God who make Christmas the Birthday of Jesus and make it real to those around us who have been taught that Xmas does not exclude Christ and that Santa is the hero. I am not suggesting that this is easy in a time when family and friends seem to have a claim on our life.
Let us remember that “Jesus is the Reason for the season”. And we are His participants to bring others to Him. Let us make the most of Christmas to bring the truth to the season and bring God the glory He is entitled to for the gift He has made to us all.