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my Christmas story- I recycled from last year

If I speak to you a Christmas story about angels who proclaimed “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. That this will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. To experience the true meaning of the Nativity by pointing out that “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” But have not Love, or the true Spirit of Christmas, I am really just telling a quaint story about a baby born two-thousand years ago.....

If I have the gift of prophecy like Isaiah and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and speak prophetic words like these “He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him and by his wounds we are healed”, but have not love or understand the reason he really came to earth in the first place, I am nothing.

If I give all I possess to the poor this Christmas and even surrender my body to the flames to save another man’s life, but have not love, I gain nothing in the sense that I wasn’t doing it for the right reasons. Sacrificial love is not about me, my legacy or men’s applause.

Love is patient in shopping malls and in traffic. Love is kind to those who push and shove past you to get the best deal. It does not envy others Christmas gifts or traditions; it does not boast about getting everything on our list, it is not proud, nor does it make a scene. It never says, “I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But this love realizes that we are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. This same baby grew up to be a man, a sacrifice if you will, He instructs us to buy from him gold refined in the fire, so we can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so we can cover our shameful nakedness; and salve to put on our eyes, so we can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. It will be the best “Christ” mas feast ever!

It is not rude to the man who steals our parking place, it is not self-seeking and creating a Christmas or prayer list that only includes what I want, but seeks first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

It is not easily angered at family gatherings that you did not care to attend; it keeps no record of wrongs much like Santa who is sure to check it twice to make sure it knows who really screwed you over this year. Our naughty list forgets grace, which we want a double portion. Like the prodigal son, we squander this grace in a far off place and when we fill that His grace is all gone. We stumble home looking for forgiveness and more grace. Sometimes, we act like the older brother and only seek this grace for our selves and not for those who are lost and away from the father. We want to seek justice for those who are not doing the will of the Father. We want to speak of our faithfulness to him, if maybe only to get the fatted calf killed on our behalf. We justify our deserving of greater gifts and talents because we have been so “good this year”.

Love does not delight in evil- for instance the removal of Christ from the very day that was created for Him, but rejoices with the truth in knowing “He is the Reason for the Season. It always protects those who cannot protect themselves, always trusts those who may not always have our best interest at heart, always hopes that the world will come to find a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, always perseveres to find the true Spirit of the season. The fruit of which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease because eventually Christ appears and it is too late for warnings; where there are tongues, they will be stilled, it will be time to listen; where there is knowledge, it will pass away because it is human and very limited. For we know in part and we prophesy in part the best we know how in this fallen world, but when perfection comes like a thief in the night, the imperfect disappears as if to be remembered no more in the Kingdom of God. The one Jesus prayed for when he spoke to His father in heaven, to give us this daily bread and forgiving those who trespass against us. This is the “perfect” way, God supplying our needs and us taking care of those who may not have our best interest at heart. The true man of God says- “love your enemy, to pray for your enemy and some instances serve food at your table for your enemy.”

When I was a child I believed in the spirit of giving especially when it was for me, I talked like a child, I spoke of how I was getting everything I deserved for Christmas because I had been such a good boy this year; Hoping all the while that no one took note of my last ditch effort to behave the day before Christmas because I had been a brat the rest of the year. During this time, I thought like a child, I actually believed this Christmas thing was all about me. Making a list of wants and knowing that if I behaved just right, I would get my fair share. I reasoned like a child, I really believed that being nice was really good enough to stay off the naughty list. The truth is while I was still naughty; Christ came into the world and died for me.

When I became a man, I stopped believing in myths, rituals and Traditions. I began to put my faith in something greater. I began to focus on the why and not the how we celebrate this season. I put childish ways behind me; I began to learn about things like God’s grace is sufficient and my self-righteousness religion are like dirty rags to Him. I understand that my lack of love for mankind ultimately affects my relationship with my family, God and fellow man.

Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror because we are so finite; then we shall see face to face the infinite wisdom of God and His true plan for our lives. Now I know in part because I have limited mental capacity for Spiritual Truths; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known in the presence of God, naked and stripped bare of all the religious coverings we hide behind.

And now these three remain: faith in God and his son Jesus Christ hope in His Birth, Death and Resurrection and love that is not greater than a man laying his life down for a friend. Yes, the greatest of these is love, not fear, not human comfort or making a list to a Cosmic Santa Claus, but a sacrificial love that can only come from God. And as love came into the world saying “fear not, don’t be afraid.” Jesus left the world saying “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Remember, whenever something supernatural is about to happen, God says, “Do not be afraid”. It is peace He seeks for us this Christmas. He really wants to do something great this Christmas season. Will you be a part of His Supernatural Plan of peace, love and joy this season?

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