Whether or not your tree is down, God’s offer to you remains
By Dean Collins
Depending on your faith or family tradition, your Christmas tree is or is about to be down. Some start packing the decorations away quickly so they can get on with their routines. Many around the world wait until January 6 and celebrate Epiphany, a day that acknowledges two occasions in the life of Jesus: the arrival of the wise men who saw the star and came to worship the young Jesus, and the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. But no matter how much significance you place in the length of the Christmas celebration, eventually everyone moves on with life and schedules.
For some, the celebration of anything rooted in Christian faith is an irritant. After all, if you don’t see a need for a Savior, then holidays rooted in the appearance of the One sent by God to save and restore all things are an inconvenient interruption of everyday life.
Divine irritant
The divine presence has been an irritant since the Garden of Eden. “You won’t die” were the words from the serpent to Eve. The enemy delivered his first lie, and Adam and Eve took the bait. Fellowship with God in his perfect world was broken. There were consequences for everyone that continue to this day.
But God had a plan, and as we read through the Old Testament, we see the plan unfolding and leading us to the great celebration we just finished. In the peaceful moments of Christmas Eve, we may have felt God’s presence and remembered his goodness expressed through the Christ child.
Divine insight
When Herod heard the news of a king’s birth, he felt threatened by the possible disruption to his power. While some today find Jesus irritating, others see him as a threat to their power and control. But the Magi were indeed wise, and led by divine insight, they did not go back to Herod once they found the baby born in Bethlehem.
God spoke again to Joseph, and Joseph listened and obeyed and took Mary and Jesus to Egypt as instructed. Herod’s terrible acts of murdering young male babies brought the pain the prophet Jeremiah foretold: “A cry was heard in Ramah—weeping and great mourning. Rachel weeps for her children, refusing to be comforted.”
God spoke again to Joseph, and he moved Mary and Jesus to the region of Galilee. Even as a baby, Jesus experienced the challenges of people bent toward self-interests, personal power, and willingness to do whatever it takes to pursue and protect their ambitions.
Divine offer
God’s offer of extravagant life in fellowship with him has been threatened by temptation to sin since the Garden of Eden and continues today. Without Jesus, there is no way to forgiveness, restoration, and eternity with God.
Some find Jesus irritating, some find him threatening, and some prefer to ignore him. But there is another response. We have the invitation to follow him. His gift of forgiveness and eternal life come to anyone willing to accept him. But this new life of grace, mercy, and love, while freely given, comes with the same challenges and opposition that Jesus himself faced from infancy and even until his death on the cross. Those irritated with Jesus likely will be irritated with those who follow Jesus.
So as we pack up the decorations and embrace this new year we must not put Jesus in a box with the ornaments and wreaths. We must choose to keep him daily in our view. His Spirit must guide us, his love must be expressed through us, and we must pray that his kingdom comes on earth as it is in Heaven. Jesus is our way forward now and forever.
Lord, as we move on from the celebration of your birth, we are grateful for your presence in the days of Advent. We now look to you to guide our steps as we embrace what you have for us in this new year. We ask for your Holy Spirit to lead us to truth and to make our attitudes and behaviors graceful and merciful, even as we encounter those who find you to be an irritant in their lives. May your life in us be so evident that we bring a sweet aroma of love and peace to those who do not yet know you. Use us for your glory now and forever more. May your kingdom come in us and be seen through us today. Amen.
Your time with God’s Word
Genesis 3:4-5; Matthew 2:3-4, 7-8, 12-23; 3:1-3 NLT
Photo by Any Lane at Pexels.com
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