Many years ago, one of Atlanta’s more affluent neighborhoods had a Christmas decorating contest. A committee of residents made their rounds to judge the best Christmas decorations. The neighbors tried to outdo one another, and the decision for first place was not easy.
Finally, the judges awarded a house which had an extremely elaborate front door.
Roy McClain, then pastor of Atlanta’s First Baptist Church, wrote, “Obviously, much time and money had been spent to convert it into a thing of dazzling brilliance. But to install the various elements of the arrangement, the family had to first lock the front door and block off the door step lest someone unknowingly trip over a cord or a spot light.
“It was beautiful and impressive,” he wrote, “but nobody could get through the door! You had to go all the way around to the back of the house, through the carport, into the kitchen in order to get to the living room.”
Will this describe our Christmas experience? Decorative, showy, flashy, bright, but Jesus can’t get into the front door of our lives? Where is Jesus in your Christmas?
Some years I wonder if I’ll make it to Christmas day. Have you ever felt that way? Getting ready for Christmas is sometimes like running a marathon. It’s weary on the body, the mind and the emotions. I asked one lady if she was ready for Christmas. She replied, “I don’t ever get ready. I just quit.”
Well, ready or not, Christmas is here. Let’s take a moment to, like Mary who pondered all these things in her heart (Luke 2:19), to reflect on the significance of Christmas.
Reflect on his unique birth. Every birth is a miracle, but a virgin birth? As the angel told Mary, “With God, nothing is impossible.”
A baby was born. He was placed in a feeding trough. An angel appeared to sleepy shepherds going through the dull routine of working the night shift. There was an explosion of light. Angels filled the sky and sang a song of exaltation. Shepherds left their sheep and quickly went to Bethlehem and saw firsthand the Christ child. They were in awe of Jesus.
Reflect on the presence of God. The baby was Immanuel, God with us. John wrote, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” He still promises His presence in all times in all situations. He’ll never forsake us.
Reflect on his invitation. Jesus said, “Come unto me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
There was a mother who worked all day to get the house ready for the Christmas party. Everything was in place. The tree was beautiful. Decorations were just right. The house was clean. She told her two small daughters, “I’m going to the kitchen to check on dinner. Don’t you dare mess up this room, do you hear me?” They nodded.
But when she came back into the room, she stopped abruptly, “What have you done?” There, in line before the manger scene, was a ragged assortment of broken toys – a Barbie with no arms, a one-legged cowboy, a plastic soldier chewed up by the puppy, a ballerina with no slippers.
The mother said, “I thought I told you … ”
“Oh, Mommy, we didn’t mess up the room. We just brought our broken friends to Jesus so he can fix them. Can’t we leave them like this, ple-e-e-ase?”
The mother’s anger vanished as she pictured that scene of broken toys placed before the baby Jesus. She thought, “That’s what Jesus does. He helps the broken, hurting suffering and even weary ones like me.”
Are you weary and burdened this Christmas season? Jesus stands with open arms to receive you and your burdens. Will you cast your cares upon Him?
Reflect on His mission. If ever a child was born to die, it was Jesus. God sent His son to be the Savior of the world, and that Savior was born to die on the cross of Calvary to pay the penalty for our sin.
That’s why Jesus came, to care for you. To die for you. To be your Savior. Praise God for Christmas!
Dr. David L. Chancey is pastor, McDonough Road Baptist Church, in Fayetteville. The church family meets at 352 McDonough Road, near McCurry Park, and invites you to join them this Sunday for Bible study at 9:45 a.m. and worship at 10:55 a.m. Visit them online at www.mcdonoughroad.org.
