Can Christmas really make a difference in my life?

I did not grow up around the ocean, so when we settled in Hawaii for my Sr. year of high school I began a strong learning curve. Even though you may not recognize it, the ocean is always active. Whether it be an undertow that can grab your feet and pull you under, or a rip tide that will take you out past the waves, or just the current that moves you from one side of the beach to the other side of the beach. What I learned quickly was to become “one” with the water. Fighting it was a losing and unwise battle.  

The title I chose is to provoke us to really think about what impact Christmas has on us. We all should know it’s not about a date, whether or not Christ was born on December 25^th is NOT the issue. That is the date that people from around the world have chosen to celebrate. The argument about it being originally a pagan celebration is truly a waste of time, as if the date December 25^th is an intrinsically evil date! As a Pastor I did not get the luxury of celebrating birthdays, anniversaries and other special times on the “date” they happened. I had a choice; either cram it in due to a horrible schedule, for example when my anniversary falls on a Sunday when I preach 4 services, or pick the best day closest to that date so I can really show my wife how special she is to me. The real question is what has the meaning of that celebration done to you. I love my wife so much I want to have a very special time celebrating the day we were married. So…the question is not what some date has done to you, but what difference has the purpose and meaning of Christmas made in your life?

The first Christmas, not how or where, but it’s meaning is described in John:

John 1:1–4, 14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The incarnation is so past our comprehension, but not past our embracing. I trust God completely, so I can accept what He states…even though all of it does not register. His mind is infinite, mine is not, so to those that demand we explain God fully, they spell their idea of God as “god”. However, if you believe He is what He describes Himself to be in Scripture, then you spell it “GOD” and you have no problem understanding that you will never fully understand Him!

God became a man in order to save men…but what does that “save,” mean? Too many treat it like it is exclusively a change of destination after death. This is tragic and robs many of the incredible truth that God intends to save the whole person. Yes, we will not be separated from Him in eternity (destination), yet there is so much more! In a very limited way, God is working a second incarnation with salvation. Not that we become gods, but that the Holy Spirit, from the moment of indwelling us, is transforming us by creating the character of Jesus in us. Our flesh begins to take on His nature. 

God intends for Christmas to save us from selfish attitudes, our self-adoration, self-seeking…in other words...ourselves! All of us know we struggle with this nature we received at conception, unless we are dishonest. If you choose to live in denial, just ask those you live with, they will tell you that you have a sin nature. :) 

For the next two devos, I want to look at Christmas from a passage that spells out God’s desire for us through His salvation. It is much more than transportation to heaven, it is about transformation of life!

Philippians 3:10-16 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

v. 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings

To “Know Christ” – you see, it is a package!  Most of us only want to experience the resurrection, not any suffering! That is why so many false teachers are so successful today, they are playing to our greed. Don’t feel bad; we are in good company! Remember James & John?

Matthew 20:20–23 Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor. “What is your request?” he asked. She replied, “In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.” But Jesus answered by saying to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?” “Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!” Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup. But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. My Father has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen.”

Let’s learn from them though, so we do not repeat their mistake.

v. 10 Becoming like him in his death

Becoming like Him; this is our ultimate goal! Remember Jesus, beginning in the garden until His death? Submissive to the Father and complete selflessness; His first words from the cross expressed His concern for us. Are these characteristics seen in us?

v. 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

What does this mean? Not to earn it, but arrive at this moment already being conformed to Christ. Sometimes the Christ-like character you show may come back and surprise you!

"A missionary was sitting at her second story window when she was handed a letter from home. As she opened the letter, a crisp, new, ten-dollar bill fell out. She was pleasantly surprised, but as she read the letter her eyes were distracted by the movement of a shabbily dressed stranger down below, leaning against a post in front of the building. She couldn't get him off her mind. Thinking that he might be in greater financial stress than she, she slipped the bill into an envelope on which she quickly penned `Don't despair.' She threw it out the window. The stranger below picked it up, read it, looked up, and smiled as he tipped his hat and went his way. The next day she was about to leave the house when a knock came at the door. She found the same shabbily dressed man smiling a toothless grin as he handed her a roll of bills.  When she asked what they were for, he replied: `That's the 60 bucks you got comin', lady. The horse “Don't Despair” paid five to one! '"

Ephesians 4:11–13 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

Here is a great principle to keep before ourselves as we move past this season: “I must accept all of what it means to be a Christian!”

v. 12 Not that I have already obtained all this,

Never think that you have arrived, it produces really harmful attitudes: Sitting and listening to a sermon, and instead of really paying attention, you are thinking; "Oh So & So needs to hear this"! Or taking a “leave” from ministering to others because you think, “I've done my time!" That makes serving the Lord sound like it is a jail term. I have even heard some say: "Everyone has a right to their own convictions...But I'm the only one that is right!”  Beloved there is a huge difference in being satisfied with Christ vs. being satisfied with your Christian walk! All of us can improve in our walk.

v.12 or have already been made perfect,

The word “perfect” really means mature or complete here. Knowing the life of Paul, and hearing him say that, I know how that affects my view of myself, how about you?

Here is another principle to keep before us: “I am not so mature!” You knowing that you know you are not so mature is a mark of authentic maturity!

v.12 but I press on                       

                 

To “press on” means to never quit; there is always a new opportunity, not just a new day, but also a new moment! To live from moment to moment is conscious living!

v.12 to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.           

When we “take hold” it brings us to an oneness of goal! This is the work of the Holy Spirit, conforming does not mean we lose our individuality, that is what Nazis did! We remain who we were created to be, however our vision, purpose, goals and desires become focused on knowing God and all He is. We learn to see God in all of life…this is the difference between a relationship and a religion!

Psalms 42:1-2 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?

Here is our last principle for this Devo: “I am going to get out of life everything that Jesus sees in me!”

Why not consider the 3 principles throughout the next couple of days?