Rediscovering Christmas

This month I've been preaching about Rediscovering Christmas during our church worship services.  Why? Because we or at least I get so caught up in the traditions and commercialization of the season that I(we) have a tendency to crowd out the story of God's redemptive plan for the world.

I know that most of you know the story of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.  You would have to close your eyes and cover your ears in order to not see and hear this story mentioned on TV, in conversations or even on the radio.  The problem is that the story becomes chatter and it's hard to really understand chatter.  You may lean in, focus real hard and try to drown out the noise around you in order to hear it but unfortunately it still sounds like chatter.  That's what happens to me around this time of year.  And then it's all over and I look back and think, where did December go?  I want this Christmas season to be different. I need this Christmas season to be different.

I get busy trying to get the Christmas lights up, find and decorate the tree, find a good parking spot so I don't have to carry the bags so far away from the building I just invested my life savings in.  Oh, wait.  This is supposed to be about Jesus.  I really don't want to leave Him out.  His birth into this world is why we celebrate in the first place.  What can I do?  Why not go back in time and re-discover the beauty of this powerful moment in God's redemptive plan for saving you and me?

The first thing I did was to turn to the Gospel of Luke and read the story once again.  Why not take some time and reread it yourself?  Read Luke 2:1-20 or click to view (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+2%3A1-20&version=NIV ) 

This baby boy is the promise of God the Jews had been waiting for, for 400 years.  And here He is.  It was said that He would make things right that were wrong in this world or at least set things in motion to be made right.  And He did.  He would reveal His glory to and through unsuspecting people.  And He did.  All through out the bible, God seemed to be at a distance, but in this baby boy, He would visit up close and personal.  And here He is. 

What that means is, God is faithful to the promises he makes.  God will restore the brokenness in our lives and in this world.  God will show his power and glory in me and through me and He wants me to know that He is not some distant creator but a close friend.  Wow.  That is what Christmas is all about.  That is why He is so special.

Take some time and rediscover the beauty of God's story this Christmas and Have a Merry Christmas!