Merle's Christmas reflections 2014
4. After Christmas - 3/01/2015
Christmas has come and gone. The simplicity of the story of the birth of Jesus will be forgotten for another year as the last decorations are stored away. The celebrations will fade as life gets back to normal. There may well be mixed feelings about the Christmas break coming to an end. Some of us who looked forward to the preparations and celebrations will be sad that it is all over while others, who for personal reasons did not look forward to Christmas, will be relieved that it is all over and that life has returned to normal. However, it is the wise men who leave us with the hope, faith and expectation of something better that we need to consider before the final chapter of the nativity draws to a close.
These men, who studied the history of the times, were looking for the birth of a new King. They searched the night skies for the affirmation of their belief as they were wont to do and were not disappointed. Sure enough, a bright new star appeared and they followed its path across the heavens until it came to rest at the appointed destination of the new King’s dwelling. I doubt that the house where the child lived with his parents was what they expected but, as this was the place above which the star stopped, they worshipped him and presented their costly gifts.
These wise men were not alone in their beliefs. King Herod was greatly disturbed to find from the teachers of the law and chief priests that a new king was expected to be born. Is it surprising that he planned to destroy the life of Jesus by demanding that the wise men inform him of the child’s address as soon as they found him? But God is never caught out by the intervention of men to thwart his plans for someone’s good.
We might turn away from Christmas for another year. However, I wonder if we are prepared to begin our own search, or even to continue it, against all odds, in order to find answers. There are so many things that happen to us and around us that cause us to waver in life as a whole. This Christmas there have been tragic losses of life in the sea and the air. The past year might have produced personal difficulties that still have to be overcome. Are we prepared to search, and then follow a course that has opened up before us? Will we allow the sceptics around us to deter us from what we know to be right for us? Are we prepared to give God what is his due, the costliest of all gifts, our hearts, so that we can worship him, holding nothing back? Will we take up the challenge of listening for his voice into our situations instead of fretting or stumbling around in the dark where we will get hurt and possibly hurting others? The wise men give us much food for thought. They never wavered in their search and belief that they would find what they were looking for. The world needed a new King and they were not disappointed for a new King was born.
A final thought. How often do we pray for something and we get an answer but not the answer that we were expecting. I wonder if that is what happened to the wise men when they found the new King and his family, living as many people do, in a humble house - with the father a carpenter by trade. Not exactly royalty! What they found was even better for it was this child who gives a hope for eternity to all those who accept him as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Just because it isn’t the answer we expected it doesn’t mean God was not working for our very best.
These men, who studied the history of the times, were looking for the birth of a new King. They searched the night skies for the affirmation of their belief as they were wont to do and were not disappointed. Sure enough, a bright new star appeared and they followed its path across the heavens until it came to rest at the appointed destination of the new King’s dwelling. I doubt that the house where the child lived with his parents was what they expected but, as this was the place above which the star stopped, they worshipped him and presented their costly gifts.
These wise men were not alone in their beliefs. King Herod was greatly disturbed to find from the teachers of the law and chief priests that a new king was expected to be born. Is it surprising that he planned to destroy the life of Jesus by demanding that the wise men inform him of the child’s address as soon as they found him? But God is never caught out by the intervention of men to thwart his plans for someone’s good.
We might turn away from Christmas for another year. However, I wonder if we are prepared to begin our own search, or even to continue it, against all odds, in order to find answers. There are so many things that happen to us and around us that cause us to waver in life as a whole. This Christmas there have been tragic losses of life in the sea and the air. The past year might have produced personal difficulties that still have to be overcome. Are we prepared to search, and then follow a course that has opened up before us? Will we allow the sceptics around us to deter us from what we know to be right for us? Are we prepared to give God what is his due, the costliest of all gifts, our hearts, so that we can worship him, holding nothing back? Will we take up the challenge of listening for his voice into our situations instead of fretting or stumbling around in the dark where we will get hurt and possibly hurting others? The wise men give us much food for thought. They never wavered in their search and belief that they would find what they were looking for. The world needed a new King and they were not disappointed for a new King was born.
A final thought. How often do we pray for something and we get an answer but not the answer that we were expecting. I wonder if that is what happened to the wise men when they found the new King and his family, living as many people do, in a humble house - with the father a carpenter by trade. Not exactly royalty! What they found was even better for it was this child who gives a hope for eternity to all those who accept him as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Just because it isn’t the answer we expected it doesn’t mean God was not working for our very best.
3. Seeing is believing - 19/12/2014
‘When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”’ Luke 2:15.
A little while earlier, while the shepherds were watching over the sheep, the dark night sky had lit up with the glory of God. They had been terrified. These humble folk had been chosen to enjoy the spectacular heralding of the birth of God’s Son, the new royal prince. What a privileged invitation. The angel said very clearly to them, ‘this will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ Luke 2:12.
What was their response? It could have been to ‘wait and see if it was true’ or ‘what will happen to us if we look for the baby in Bethlehem and anyone sees us?’ After all, they were considered the outcasts of the town, left to fend for themselves as best they could. These poor folk could have thrown out the entire experience as fiction, a bit far-fetched after all. No. They made their way deftly down the hillside and found the even more humble birth-place of the King of Kings.
Did they return to their sheep and keep quiet about what they had seen and heard? Not at all.
‘When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.’ Luke 2:17-18.
The testimony of these shepherds was well worth listening to. They were the first believers and witnessed the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour, God’s only Son sent to redeem us and restore our relationship with God.
We are challenged every Christmas as to whether our love for God has grown cold. Have we become stale, or have the difficulties of the previous year caused us to lose our joy, lose our way and become blasé in our inability to cope. Do we wish we could run away? Sometimes we go to the extremes of what we are capable of because life is not worth living anymore. Is it not for this very reason that Jesus came in the first place? We need never allow ourselves to give up. This Christmas is our opportunity for a new beginning by turning again to the Lord Jesus to find forgiveness, joy, strength, peace and comfort.
What was their response? It could have been to ‘wait and see if it was true’ or ‘what will happen to us if we look for the baby in Bethlehem and anyone sees us?’ After all, they were considered the outcasts of the town, left to fend for themselves as best they could. These poor folk could have thrown out the entire experience as fiction, a bit far-fetched after all. No. They made their way deftly down the hillside and found the even more humble birth-place of the King of Kings.
Did they return to their sheep and keep quiet about what they had seen and heard? Not at all.
‘When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.’ Luke 2:17-18.
The testimony of these shepherds was well worth listening to. They were the first believers and witnessed the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour, God’s only Son sent to redeem us and restore our relationship with God.
We are challenged every Christmas as to whether our love for God has grown cold. Have we become stale, or have the difficulties of the previous year caused us to lose our joy, lose our way and become blasé in our inability to cope. Do we wish we could run away? Sometimes we go to the extremes of what we are capable of because life is not worth living anymore. Is it not for this very reason that Jesus came in the first place? We need never allow ourselves to give up. This Christmas is our opportunity for a new beginning by turning again to the Lord Jesus to find forgiveness, joy, strength, peace and comfort.
2. Justice and mercy - 12/12/2014
'An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home to be your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you will give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’ Matthew 1:20-21.
We have four boys who are all grown up now. We, just as most parents would, wanted our boys to grow up into fine young men and, just like many other parents, were sometimes pushed to our limits when they disagreed with our way of doing this. If chastisement was necessary we showed as much understanding, forgiveness and acceptance afterwards to show how much each one was loved even though bad attitudes and behaviour had driven a wedge between us.
After heartfelt apologies had been said there was time to talk and understand where it had gone wrong and why it was necessary for correction and at times chastisement. One of my sons would say to his dad, ‘Why do you say I am a good boy when I have been so naughty.' The answer was always the same, ‘Because you are a good boy and I know that you wish you had not been naughty.’ Children give parents and teachers dilemmas and we as grown-ups give each other dilemmas. It is easy to get the wrong side of the boss, a colleague, spouse or friend.
Think of the dilemma that we give God. He created mankind and we read, ‘God saw all that he had made, and it was very good’ (Genesis 1:31). God gave us freewill so we could love. When our forebears broke trust with God, and when we continue to do so, that gives God a dilemma. He is holy and cannot allow sin in his presence. Yet he loves us and wants us to be with him.
God’s response was to reach down at a point in history which would provide the perfect answer once and for all, and one that would last for eternity. The birth of Jesus is God’s answer to the dilemma we have always given him by our bad behaviour and attitudes. God gave an eternal answer to an age-old problem. We deserve justice but have been shown mercy.
After heartfelt apologies had been said there was time to talk and understand where it had gone wrong and why it was necessary for correction and at times chastisement. One of my sons would say to his dad, ‘Why do you say I am a good boy when I have been so naughty.' The answer was always the same, ‘Because you are a good boy and I know that you wish you had not been naughty.’ Children give parents and teachers dilemmas and we as grown-ups give each other dilemmas. It is easy to get the wrong side of the boss, a colleague, spouse or friend.
Think of the dilemma that we give God. He created mankind and we read, ‘God saw all that he had made, and it was very good’ (Genesis 1:31). God gave us freewill so we could love. When our forebears broke trust with God, and when we continue to do so, that gives God a dilemma. He is holy and cannot allow sin in his presence. Yet he loves us and wants us to be with him.
God’s response was to reach down at a point in history which would provide the perfect answer once and for all, and one that would last for eternity. The birth of Jesus is God’s answer to the dilemma we have always given him by our bad behaviour and attitudes. God gave an eternal answer to an age-old problem. We deserve justice but have been shown mercy.
1. The Promise - 5/12/2014
'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 Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.' Isaiah 9:6-7.
This was the promise given to the Israelites through the prophet Isaiah some 700 years before Jesus came to this earth. During those 700 years many in Israel forgot the promise as the nation went through the upheavals of numerous changes in their circumstances. Poor leadership and compromise of their values and faith led to disillusionment. By the time Jesus was born their situation looked bleak under Roman occupation.
I have heard this said of those who make promises regularly and just as regularly break them. ‘Your promises are like pie crust.’ In other words they are easily made and easily broken. Mistrust is understandable. Why allow your hopes to be built up only to be dashed to the ground yet again? We develop ways to avoid disappointment, rejection and hurt. In the process we become independent and keep people at bay. We may appear happy and content with life but we might be covering up our loneliness and lack of confidence.
Christmas tells us that we can trust again. God was true to his promise. We can accept the profound simplicity of God’s gift to us. We don’t need to protect ourselves any more. As the Christmas story unfolds we can trust again and enter into the peace, hope, provision for our needs and guidance that are at the heart of this story.
I have heard this said of those who make promises regularly and just as regularly break them. ‘Your promises are like pie crust.’ In other words they are easily made and easily broken. Mistrust is understandable. Why allow your hopes to be built up only to be dashed to the ground yet again? We develop ways to avoid disappointment, rejection and hurt. In the process we become independent and keep people at bay. We may appear happy and content with life but we might be covering up our loneliness and lack of confidence.
Christmas tells us that we can trust again. God was true to his promise. We can accept the profound simplicity of God’s gift to us. We don’t need to protect ourselves any more. As the Christmas story unfolds we can trust again and enter into the peace, hope, provision for our needs and guidance that are at the heart of this story.
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