An Un-celebrated Christmas

An Un-celebrated Christmas

I was reading up on some of the backgrounds of “The Messiah,” written by Handel, a performance that Jane and I attended recently. It was an exceptional presentation and I was surprised at the drama of it all, following the story of the birth of Jesus and His death and resurrection and His coming in glory. It is not really a Christmas story. It is a Jesus story, a Christ story, spanning from Incarnation to Glorification. 

So why is “The Messiah” performed mostly at Christmas? It seems that in London at one time, there was trouble getting up any enthusiasm for the Christmas holiday. Can you imagine? It was Christmas, and there was absolutely nothing going on. No decorations. No gift-giving. No parties. No Christmas music. So what did they do? They stole “The Messiah.”

I don’t know why Christmas wasn’t being celebrated, but I can hazard a couple of guesses. My first thought would be “no money.” It is hard to celebrate Christmas without money. Special gifts. Special clothes. Special meals. It costs a lot to make “special.” Of course, this answer runs crossgrain with the actual Christmas story. It appears Joseph and Mary scarcely had two denarii to rub together. All the essential elements of that first Christmas were heavenly gifts, given as true gifts are, free of charge: the angels; the star; oh, and the Child. All freely given, for free.

Now that I think about it, maybe money is one of the things that actually diminishes the true celebration of Christmas. We buy so much stuff that we have little time or attention for the wonders that have been given completely free of charge. Maybe the people back then, as now, had too much, and were otherwise preoccupied.

Another reason for “an uncelebrated Christmas” might be a loss of hope. Hope is lost when the promises are forgotten. Promises are forgotten when the Bible is not read and taken seriously. God had promised to Adam and Eve and Abraham a Seed; He had promised through Balaam a Star; He had promised to David a Son who would reign forever; He had promised to Isaiah “a child will be born, and a Son given.;” to Micah that the insignificant would prove to be great. But all of those promises are of little value to those who do not listen or heed, hell-bent as they are on, you know, un-celebrating Christmas.

Yes, in London, they needed “The Messiah” to help people focus on Christmas. And today? We need to focus on the Messiah.

An Open Heart leads to Open Pockets

 An Open Heart leads to Open Pockets

John doesn’t pull any punches:

1John 3:17 “But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?”

Charity seems to abound during the Christmas season, and that’s a good thing. But let’s review just a bit the Biblical setting of this critical question from John to make sure we are thinking properly.

First of all, John is speaking more specifically in this passage about love of the “brothers.” I don’t believe this excludes “sisters,” but it definitely directs us to the care of believers and those who need help in the believing community. Most of the discussion of gifts and giving in the New Testament have the community of faith in mind. This is not to say that we should not give to those outside the faith. But we should remember the priority.

But more importantly, let’s notice the connection between our hearts and our pockets. The verse above does not reference the pocket, because the issue is the heart. Certainly a closed heart will result in a closed pocket. But we must also admit that, in our age of plenty, it is quite easy to share with others, even though our hearts may be rather closed. We can open our pockets for reasons other than having a truly generous heart, whether it be to salve the conscience, or impress other people.

These “brothers” are those around the world that we don’t know personally, but those with whom we are more closely related than any earthly relation. Think of that. You have a “brother” in Indonesia that you have not yet met, perhaps in great need, with whom you will spend eternity. Is your heart open, or closed?

The verse also mentions what we “have.” It does not say what we “own,” because, for the believer, everything we “have” is given as a stewardship, not for ownership. It is God’s gift to you to be used as God sees fit. It seems that having an open heart to God is connected to having an open heart to those of God’s people who have needs.

Finally, let me borrow from another passage and remind that true Christian generosity is not merely the sharing of leftovers, but is often sacrificial. In Mark 12:41-44, Jesus tells the story of the poor widow who gives “more” than the rich. It seems she had an open heart.

A Narrow Window

“But now for a brief moment grace has been shown from the LORD our God, to leave us an escaped remnant and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our bondage.” (Ezra 9:8 NAS95)

A Narrow Window

The verse above begins with the words, “But now - for a brief moment - grace has been shown.” A narrow window of grace. Let us not miss this moment by drawing the curtains. Let us not waste this opportunity.

What were the circumstances threatening to close this window.?The text tells us: we are “an escaped remnant.” Against all odds and expectations, a small group of Israelites had returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. Most others were dead or had assimilated into the (now) Persian culture to the east. Only a few were seeking to make the most of a momentary opportunity. Also, the text says, “to give us a peg.” What does that mean? It will hold only so long. We might say today, “We are hanging by a thread.”

And yet God brings into our lives opportunity to see the truth afresh in certain moments, but perhaps only at those certain moments. If you miss it, you may never see it again. A guide told our group in the UP that when we get to this ridge, shinny up the tree and look. None of us did. He said, “Well, then, you missed it.” Let’s not miss that glimpse of grace that God brings, unpredictably and unexpectedly.

There are narrow windows from which to see; narrow windows to believe. There are narrow windows to listen to a story that you will never hear again, or to speak a truth only when those ears are present and attuned. There is a time for a prayer that can be prayed at no other time; time for a deed that will only work right now or be lost forever. Lord, what do you have for me right now, in this brief moment, to see or say, to pray or to do. What in this brief moment of grace?

Perhaps the greatest sins exposed at the judgment seat for Christians are those missed opportunities because we have lived with such dulled, selfish and worldly senses. Paul says, “Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity” Col. 4:5. And, “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith” Gal. 6:10.

The other phrase in our text above is this: “a little reviving.” God, in His grace, gives “a little reviving,” if we would receive it. We must be awake, not asleep; tuned in, not distracted; directed by the Spirit, not the flesh; open to God’s gracious entrance into our lives, and not considering it to be an interruption or intrusion. Thank you, Lord, for this narrow window of grace.