How are you Willing to allow Christmas impact you?

Ivan Pavlov experimented with dogs and why they salivate. He showed that if they are conditioned to expect food they would begin to drool. He would ring a bell when he fed them; after a while if he rang the bell, even with no food, they still began to salivate. This is called a conditioned response. Some doctors that treat cancer patients have discovered that after treatment just going to the doctor’s office nauseates some patients. One lady who had cancer, months after she was done with therapy, while shopping in a grocery store she ran into the doctor that had treated her. She immediately threw up!

Christmas has always been one of my favorite seasons, way before I entered into a relationship with Christ. I believe I had a conditioned response to that time of year. I would long for cold temperatures, different colored lights, fireplace smoke in the air and favorite Christmas songs…many having nothing to do with Christ. When I discovered the real reason for the season, I wanted to change that conditioning. I still desire the “cultural” aspects of the Christmases I enjoyed, for all those things are not evil, but I wanted to have a new condition dominate the season. Now I begin this season with thoughts, meditations and reflections on my Lord’s becoming human and how that has changed everything for me. I still enjoy “Chestnuts roasting” but it takes a back seat to focusing on the unbelievable demonstration of the love from our God for all of humanity.

I met a young person who thought Jesus was a man with a big white beard and lived at the North Pole! All Santa could ever do is give gifts that perish; Jesus gives life, light and peace…both internal and eternal!

Let’s ponder the history of the first Christmas:

* It had been a shepherd’s normal day; Sheep feeding, making sure none wandered off, perhaps even having to protect them from a predator. Now that it was dark and the sheep were down for the long, hopefully quiet night, the shepherds that worked with each other could relax a little…still keeping an eye open for any unwanted visitors.  They may have talked about their day or maybe how the census that Caesar Augustus required was causing so many people to travel.  As they were speaking something wonderful happened!

Luke 2:8–20 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. “This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”  And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

These shepherds were not the “elite” of this world! They did not have fame, a published book, a lot of money or a wall filled with diplomas showing their keen intellect and scholastic accomplishments. These are the credentials the world looks to when anointing those they count as authorities on any topic. Though these items are positives when it comes to personal accomplishments, they mean very little when dealing with accepting and sharing Truth. The issue when dealing with Truth is the heart! A heart that is willing to accept Truth for what it is…Truth…has real authority. No agenda; bias or preference affects the Truth, it only twists it!  A willing heart takes what is given by Truth, accepts it and allows it to impact his or her behavior. These Shepherds did that and we can learn from their lives how we should be open to the Truth of Christmas.  

First, we see the Shepherds had a willing heart, which responds to God.

Notice: “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”

The first thing they did was respond to what God told them to do. This is the nature of a willing heart, no matter the past mistakes. Consider the difference between The Pharisees at the empty tomb and Saul, the Pharisee, when the risen Lord confronted him. Saul responded immediately by falling on his face to worship, the Pharisees bribed Roman guards to lie! Saul was hard headed; the Pharisees were hard hearted! A willing heart can soften the stubbornness of the head.

Second, we see the Shepherds had a willing heart, which reports about God.

"They made known the statement which had been told them about this Child."

The shepherds all experienced this wonderful moment and wanted to share it with others! All of us as believers should connect with this experience, the time we realized Who Jesus was!

I have attended many weddings, often as the one performing the vows. As I watch individuals during the wedding service, I see many different kinds of reactions; tears, smiles, excitement and hope.  Yet, I have found a common thread with one particular group…the married women. All of them at one time or another, during the wedding, look up at their husbands, with a glaze in their eyes, tilt there head and give this slight smile and then, like the doggies in the back windows of automobiles with the spring necks, they just kinda start floating. Even a maid of honor did it, with her husband in the balcony! All were connected by a common experience! It was not something they had heard about, or dreamed about or even something they were hoping for. Each and every one of those ladies was remembering their wedding day. The experience was real and still has an impact on them now. Our experience of understanding Who Jesus is should always drive us to share that joy with others.

Third, we see the Shepherds had a willing heart, which rejoices because of God.

"The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them."

As a Pastor my counseling load would increase greatly at the Christmas season. Many times the reason was due to the circumstances, especially financially, that the person found himself or herself in. I understand being a little “down” if your budget limits what you desire to do during this season. However, if it dominates your days, you are not finding your joy in the True reason for this season. No matter the economy, weather or schedules, God is still the same! He sent His Son so you could enjoy a relationship with the Person Who made you, designed you, has a great plan for you and NEVER stops loving you! We need to find our joy in that Truth!

Meditation: What dominates your thoughts during this season? Are you excited about it? Why? Are you feeling let down by it? Why? Are you making yourself take just a little time each day to reflect on your relationship with Christ? Are you allowing the Holy Spirit to condition your heart to be a “willing” one?