“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:42-47
Dear Reader,
I know that the scripture above isn’t your typical “Christmas time” scripture and I know that this time is supposed to be both holly and jolly, but I want to challenge you today as your Sister in Christ. Why do you do what you do every single year at this time of the year?
There are many things that we do in life ‘just because’. It’s often the children that bring these many things to light with their curious and consistent questioning of “why?”. Whether it’s the routine of our days, family traditions, or simply the way in which we personally add the ingredients to the bowl in making Grandma’s cookies, the question of why sometimes isn’t a question in which there is a quick and simple response. So today, I am asking you why.
In the past few years, as I have truly been pursuing the Lord with my life, this question of why has only grown. I am not talking about the details of the Biblical story of Jesus’ birth that we read in scripture, but all of the details that man has drawn into this season and quite frankly, into this man made holiday. Don’t get me wrong, celebrating Jesus is a beautiful thing and diving deeper into His story is terrific, but…I just want you to stop and think about it for a moment, before you continue through the motions of just doing what you do at this time of the year.
Earlier this week I was led to read the scripture from Acts 2:42-47. I absolutely love these six verses. What a beautiful image of the early church. The scripture tells us that they were devoted to learning, fellowship, communion, and prayer. They were together. They lived at peace with one another. They gave to those in need. They continued to meet together in the temple courts. They ate together with glad and sincere hearts. They praised God and enjoyed the favor of all the people.
Does this sound like our church today? For some of you, the answer may be yes and that is amazing! Relish in the beauty of that. Please, do not take that for granted. But for others, you may read this scripture with a heart longing for that church. Honestly, I have read through this scripture so many times. Oh how badly I want to see the church as we know it chase the image that has been painted for us here, but as I read it this week I realized something new.
If there is ever a time that we grow nearer to this image of the church, is it not during this time of the year? Isn’t this the time when our church buildings are the most full, as is so with our dinner tables? Isn’t this the time of the year when we see generosity on the streets and a desire for peace among people? Isn’t this the time of the year where being together seems to matter the most? Isn’t this the time of the year when the main focus of our gathering is often Jesus?
That question of ‘why?!’ is exploding in my mind as I am typing these words. Brothers and Sisters, we aren’t called to look like the church in one season of the year. We aren’t asked to worship Jesus and revel in awe of His story one time a year. We aren’t advised to display excessive joy and a heart for peace just once a year. We aren’t asked to squeeze Him into the focus of our gatherings just once a year!
Brothers and Sisters, is this not how we are supposed to live?!
This past week, in the midst of the advent series in the church that I have been attending, the Pastor reminded us that advent is about the coming of Christ and that part of our role is to be watching and waiting for Christ. Before finishing his message, he reminded the church that our advent season isn’t just leading up to December 25th. We should be living in advent. There is no point at which we should cease our watching and waiting for the promised second coming of Christ, until of course, He returns.
In the same way, should not much of what we do in this time of the year be continued on throughout the year?
I just want to share a few questions that have been playing through my mind this season in hopes that they will challenge you in the same ways that they have challenged me and also in hopes that you will challenge others in the same way that you are being challenged right now, just as iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17).
How many of us are more excited to read through Christmas cards
than to spend time in the Word of God?
How many of us spend more time preparing for ‘Santa’
than we do for the return of Christ?
How many of us get more excited for the presents under the tree
than we do about the greatest gift of eternal life?
How many of us celebrate the birth of Jesus more often
than we celebrate the completed work of Jesus on the cross?
How many of us are more familiar with the Christmas story
than we are about the saving gospel of Jesus Christ?
Is Jesus only the reason for this season of the year?
Brothers and Sisters, Jesus’ birth is miraculous and truly an event to meditate upon, but His story didn’t end at His birth. Over thirty years later Jesus completed the atoning work of God on the cross, paying the price for the sin of the world. Paying the price for your sin and for mine. As we are reminded in Romans 10:9, it is through the confession of Jesus Christ as Lord of our lives that we may now enter into a relationship with God the Father. It is upon this confession that we receive the engagement ring of the Holy Spirit, becoming the dwelling place of God until the day that Jesus returns for His church, His body, His bride.
As the Pastor reminded us last week, we are to live in a constant season of advent ~ watching and waiting for the promised return of Christ, but I want to take that a step further. There is work to be done by the church, the Acts 2:42-27 church that we read about above, as we watch and we wait. Brothers and Sisters, that is you and I. Let’s come together in a new way through every season of the year and of our lives, that we may effectively carry forth the message of reconciliation for the greater glory of our God.
His return is a promise. He is coming. Are we ready?
Enjoy your family gatherings. Rejoice before the Lord. Be generous. Carry forth the gospel of peace. Fill your bellies with yummy food. But please, don’t stop on December 26th.
With so much love,
Your Sister in Christ.
