There are so many things to consider at Christmas. Did we buy all the gifts that needed to be wrapped and those sent on time? Is the house ready to receive company? Have we got everything we need for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinner? What should we wear to church on Christmas Eve? Should we go out to dinner after church or just go home and have an intimate family Christmas...so many things to consider!
What if there is no we? Or worse what if there is no we and no money to have Christmas? You hope that never happens to you but it does happen to so many...and do we give it a second thought? It doesn't take too much to end up alone or even penniless. A tragedy here and there, age, loss of loved ones by death or just separation and family differences, time is not always kind. Our lives don't always go as we expect!
I can remember helping others at Christmas that were less fortunate than me. I also remember not helping at times because I just didn't feel up to it. I heard a song on the radio in my car today called Alone Again Naturally by Gilbert O'Sullivan. I heard that song many times but I don't even think I ever sung it to myself because I thought it was pretty stupid song. I have been alone before but I was young and knew that wouldn't last. Besides I had so many friends that I always had things to do with. What if you out-live your friends? What if differences crop up that separate you from those you love and care about? What then? Being alone at Christmas time is a pretty insurmountable concern.
Sometimes it's not an individual but a family that is alone and friendless. One particular family comes to mind:
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.'
All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel' - which means, 'God with us.'
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
Matthew 1:18-25
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Luke 2:1-7
Alone, friendless, having a child in a smelly stable, unsure of their future that night...but God saw to it that the loneliness of that night was to be very different than the way it appeared at the time:
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, '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 Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.'
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 favour rests.'
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.'
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 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. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Luke 2:8-20
Who knows when the actual event took place, shepherds where in the hills so it could have been fall, spring or summer, but it doesn't matter! It is a story of the greatest magnitude because one man, a child of the Heavenly King, born of a woman would change the earth's events forever. Men have tried to minimize the story and the significance of the birth of Jesus. They have tried to wipe God's Word off the face the map, burn every Bible in their kingdoms, torture and kill believers, cause controversies unlimited in the amount of anger exchanged-it goes on today-just mention Jesus and watch the storm appear! New scientific calendars have been proposed and created that would eliminate all mention of the words Ano Domini, But the one lonely birth, so seemingly insignificant has changed the lives of so many because Jesus was on a mission to do the will of the Father...his heavenly Father.
Alone? Friendless? Unsure of your future? Let Jesus have Christmas dinner with you! He doesn't care if it's a can of Spam...
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. Revelation 3:20-21
A very blessed Christmas to all but to the lonely especially!
See you next blog,
Ted
No comments:
Post a Comment