“Hard to See Through the Wrapping Paper”

     Christmas images are quite vivid in most people’s minds. You have probably heard about the boy who, when asked about the Christmas story, could only remember the three maggots who brought gold, frankincense and smurfs to baby Jesus.

     In addition to this distorted image of Christmas there are many other ways people view this holiday. Some see it as a time of giving and thus, shopping. Some think of family. Others think of Christmas plays, candy and presents. It is, as one writer has said, “….harder and harder to see Christmas through the wrapping paper of our culture.”

     In 1989 actor Charles Durning made a film titled “It Nearly Wasn’t Christmas.” The film portrays Santa as very unhappy. He is so bothered by the greed and selfishness of the world that he has threatened to cancel the holiday, thus causing everyone to miss Christmas. Sadly, each year many of us miss Christmas. Covid19 and the pandemic probably make it more rather than less likely that many will miss Christmas this year.

     How is it that we miss Christmas? We miss Christmas when we don’t personally receive the gifts that the Lord Jesus Christ came to give us. Jesus came as a Savior to save us from our sins and to give us a new life, as well as eternal life. We miss Christmas when we either don’t receive His free gift of salvation or when we don’t live out the new life He has given to us.

     We also miss Christmas when we fail to give personally the gift of ourselves to Jesus Christ in worship and thanksgiving. We almost always give gifts to those whom we love this time of year. Why do we forget our Lord during the season we celebrate His birth?

     The “how” of missing Christmas is simple but the “why” of missing Christmas is somewhat more complex. Let me suggest some reasons why it is that we miss Christmas. These reasons are taken right from the Biblical account of the very first Christmas.

     First of all, it is very possible to miss Christmas because we are preoccupied. Like the innkeeper who had no room in his inn (Luke 2:7) for Joseph and the very pregnant Mary, we are not hostile or unsympathetic. We are just very very busy and unfocoused. The shopping, the wrapping of gifts, the living of life etc., make it so very easy for us to miss Christmas. It takes a real effort to focus on the important, real reason for the season.

     Secondly, we can miss Christmas if we are perplexed about the Christ child. This was the case with those who heard the shepherds’ first announcement of the Savior’s birth (Luke 2:18). They marveled at the good news but did not personally go to check things out for themselves. They missed Christmas. If Jesus is a mystery to you how can you help but miss Christmas.

     Sadly, who Jesus really is and what He came to do is somewhat of a blur to most people. Growing up in church I had a vague idea about the identity of the baby Jesus, but I understood very little of the implications of His coming to earth. I made very little effort to check out his claims. Frankly, I was comfortable in my ignorance. The result was that for many years I missed Christmas.

     Thirdly, we can miss Christmas because of our own fears regarding Jesus Christ. I’ll call it paranoia. When Herod and the Jewish leaders were approached by the Magi from the East they were troubled (Matt. 2:1-3). The Magi sought a newborn king. King Herod feared that the new king might take away his throne. He fancied himself king of the Jews.  Jesus comes not only to us as a Savior, but also as King. We miss Christmas when we are afraid of His rule in our lives and of the changes He most certainly will bring. Thus, because of our fear we miss Christmas.

     We can also miss Christmas because of our pride. The chief priest and scribes were experts in the law. They even quoted Micah 5:2 to Herod about the whereabouts of Christ’s birth (Matt. 2:4-6). Yet, they failed to seek out the Christ child. They were content in their religious traditions. They had a concept of a Messiah that they were comfortable with. Evidently, the Jesus that the Magi sought was not what they were looking for. We must never forget that it is not the religious traditions that make Christmas. It is Jesus. Let’s be sure not to replace him with a celebration of His birth.

     In a few short days, Christmas will have come and gone. Don’t miss it this year. Put aside your preoccupation with the presents and the pandemic and focus on the person of Christ. Deal sincerely with the questions you have about Jesus. Search the Scriptures to find the answers. Bow down before him as King. Humble yourself in His presence and worship Him. It is then that you will experience Christmas as it is meant to be experienced.

     Regretfully, this year many will once again miss Christmas. Please don’t be in that number. Jesus Christ extends an invitation for us to experience Him and His salvation all year round. Receive His free gift of eternal life today and experience new life everyday.  Give to Him this holiday season the gift of your heart.

Blessings and Merry Christmas

Pastor Dave Watson

Christmas Portraits

Date – Monday, December 7, 2020 – Focus on Joseph

Bible Reading – Matthew 1:18-25 – Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. ²⁰ But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” ²² All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: ²³ “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). ²⁴ When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, ²⁵ but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

Observation Questions

1. What kind of man is Joseph described as?

2. What did he intend to about he and Mary’s situation?

3. What was his response to the angelic visit?

Application questions

1. Are there any commands to obey?

2. Are there any sins to avoid or confess?

3. Are there any examples to follow?

4. Are there any promises to claim?

Quote of the Day – “God made no mistake in choosing him (Joseph) either. A hotheaded man would immediately have had her stoned to death or would have made her a public example by exposing her. But Joseph was not that kind of man. He was a gentle person. He was in love with her, and he did not want to hurt her in any way, although he felt that she had been unfaithful to him.” – Dr. J Vernon Mc Gee in Thru the Bible

Christmas Portraits

Date – Sunday, December 6, 2020 – Focus on Mary

Bible Reading – Luke 1:46-55 – And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, ⁴⁷ and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, ⁴⁸ for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; ⁴⁹ for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. ⁵⁰ And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. ⁵¹ He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; ⁵² he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; ⁵³ he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. ⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, ⁵⁵ as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

Observation Question:

1. What is Mary’s song primarily about?

2. How does she view herself?

3. How does she view God?

Application questions

1. Are there any commands to obey?

2. Are there any sins to avoid or confess?

3. Are there any examples to follow?

4. Are there any promises to claim? Quote of the Day – “This section, commonly called the Magnificat, in many ways resembles Hannah’s prayer of thanksgiving and praise to God recorded in I Samuel 2:1–10. It illustrates Mary’s rich acquaintance with the Old Testament Scriptures and the closeness of her fellowship with the Lord.” – Dr. James A Borland in The KJV Bible Commentary

Christmas Portraits

Date – Thursday, December 3, 2020 – Focus on Elizabeth

Bible Readings: Luke 1:39-45 – “In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, ⁴⁰ and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, ⁴² and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! ⁴³ And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴ For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵ And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

Observation Questions

1. What is the reaction of Elizabeth’s baby to Mary’s baby?

2. What is the reaction of Elizabeth to Mary’ baby?

3. What is the reaction of Elizabeth to Mary?

Application questions

1. Are there any commands to obey?

2. Are there any sins to avoid or confess?

3. Are there any examples to follow?

4. Are there any promises to claim?

Quote of the Day – “She (Elizabeth) believed God. Now she encourages Mary. Mary is a young woman and Elisabeth is an old woman. Elisabeth had walked with God for many years and she assures her that there would be a performance of those things which had been revealed to her”.  – Dr J. Vernon McGee in Thru the Bible

Christmas Portraits

Date – Wednesday, December 2, 2020 – Focus on Zacharias

Bible Reading: Luke 1:13-20 – “But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. ¹⁴ And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, ¹⁵ for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. ¹⁶ And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, ¹⁷ and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” ¹⁸ And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” ¹⁹ And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. ²⁰ And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”

Observation Question:

1. What was the angel’s promise to Zacharias?

2. What was Zacharias response to this promise?

3. How did God chasten Zacharias for his unbelief?

Application questions

1. Are there any commands to obey?

2. Are there any sins to avoid or confess?

3. Are there any examples to follow?

4. Are there any promises to claim?

Quote of the Day: “If an angel said to you, ‘Your prayer is heard,’ what would it mean for you? What is the “too good to be true” news in your life? You may have given up believing God can bring it about.” – Dr. Bruce Larsen in The Preachers Commentary