Merry Christmas! As our upcoming Christmas Musical Drama is so aptly titled "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!" What makes Christmas the most wonderful time of the year? Is it the special time with family and friends? Is it the presents we get and give? While I love to get presents; I believe I actually love to give them more! I've said more than once I wish God would bless me financially so I could bless someone else. Oh well, God knows what He's doing in that area of my life so I'm honestly trying to be content with where God has me right now. So back to my question, what makes Christmas the most wonderful time of the year?
Christ's birth of course! Regardless of what the world is trying to say…without Christ's birth there would be no CHRISTmas!!!! What's the big deal? Without a birth there is no BIRTHday and without Christ there is no CHRISTmas! Plain and simple!
I'm afraid at this time of the year we get so caught up in the wonder of Jesus' birth that we don't stop and think about the sacrifice of His birth. Babies are wonderful and are truly a time to celebrate and praise God but have you ever thought about how Jesus felt about His birth? Jesus was with the Father from the beginning and He knew before His birth what was going to happen! He knew He was going to leave the splendor of heaven to come to a less than perfect world. He knew He was going to go from being praised and worshiped by the angels to being despised and rejected by mankind. But most of all, He knew He was going to leave His Father's loving side to one day have His Father turn away because He couldn't look on His Son while Christ bore our sins! In the garden of Gethsemane Jesus …fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. Matthew 26:39. Aren't you glad Jesus ended His prayer the way He did …as thou wilt! Aren't you glad Jesus didn't run from God's will?
Are you running from God? Are you like Jesus …fell on his face, and prayed…as thou wilt; or are you like Jonah …arose to flee… Jonah 1:3 …the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying, Arise go unto Nineveh… Jonah 3:1-2. It's amazing that throughout Jesus life He never arose to flee; He never had to be told a second time. He knew the Father's plan and He spent His whole life being obedient to that plan. You never find Jesus taking a break from doing the Father's will. You never find Him sitting it out until the Father gives Him another plan. You never hear Him say "I don't feel led" or "I don't want to get hurt" or "I think God changed His mind". Jesus got a word from God and He surrendered to God's will and fulfilled His word and completed the task. Circumstances, ridicule, obstacles, fear, lack of appreciation, inconvenience; nothing interfered with the task He was assigned to do. So back to my questions, are you running from God? Did you once receive a word from God, clear and true, no doubt in your mind; but now you're not so sure? Let me assure you of one thing; if God hasn't reassigned you, you best be fulfilling the task God gave you! Too often opposition deters us from accomplishing God's will but I'm sure Christ faced way more opposition than we ever will and it didn't deter Him! If the wind, sea and whale had to obey God, what are your chances of escaping? I'm sure Jonah did some serious praying while he enjoyed his new accommodations in the belly of the fish and you know what! God didn't change His mind one bit! …the word of the LORD came unto Jonah…saying, Arise, go to Nineveh… Jonah 1:1-2 …the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying, Arise, go unto Nineveh… Jonah 3:1-2. Do you notice something interesting in these two blocks of scripture? God didn't change His mind one iota! Jonah got the same assignment! What about you, are you running from God? Are you willing to go wherever, do whatever, say whatever, stay wherever, surrender whatever …as thou wilt!Â
I hope you have a wonderfully blessed Christmas and New Year but the only way to accomplish that is to totally surrender to the Christ of CHRISTmas!
Love & hugs,
Carol
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