Ask yourself: How do you want to celebrate this Christmas?
As the song goes, maybe we did some wild and meaningless things last Christmas. But, if we want, we can make this Christmas last a lifetime in our memory, by experiencing the same blessings that accompanied the first Christmas.
How can this be?
On the first Christmas, God came very close to humanity in many miraculous ways. The good news is that if we want, we can experience the same wonders and miracles in our lives even today.
Because, we determine how close we want to be with God. For example, Mary was so close to God that the Spirit of God was able to overshadow her and the most Holy One was conceived within her.
Then, we see how Joseph was close to God. May be it was his habit to dialogue with his Heavenly Father during night times and to get counsel from God before falling asleep. It is little wonder, that God spoke to him through dreams and advised him not to be reluctant to take Mary as his wife. The night time counsels Joseph received also gave him a lot of peace and solid instructions on how to protect and provide for Mother Mary and the Infant Jesus.
News of great joy
When Jesus was born 2000 years ago in Bethlehem, this message of great joy was first and foremost shared with some Shepherds who were watching their flocks by night. The Gospel of Luke puts it this way:
‘Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
May be it was customary for these shepherds to have a good sing-song time during the night hours just enjoying the starry nights and worshipping God in the biting winter. God rewarded their simple steadfast faith and heartfelt worship with the appearance of heavenly angels and a specific message regarding the Messiah’s Birth. But, when they heard the heavenly message they were terrified. They did not understand what they saw or heard. But, they acted on what they saw and heard in faith and they were greatly rewarded with the gift of beholding the Saviour of the world – the Baby Jesus.
Finally, came the wise men who travelled afar from the East. They were diligent astronomers yet they could not understand the sign that was displayed in the skies. But, God helped them put the puzzle together. They had to only trust and follow the star and the star led them all the way to Bethlehem and stood exactly where the child lay. Talk about being led by a star in this age of GPS.
Christmas in Jerusalem
Of course, if you visit Jerusalem during this time of the year, you will see Christians who have come from different parts of the world attending the celebrations in “Manger Square” in Bethlehem. There are “candle light” services in several of the Christian churches in the Old City of Jerusalem, including the Shepherd’s Field.
You decide on your Christmas
Yet, one does not necessarily have to be in Jerusalem to celebrate Christmas. You can experience the very essence of Christmas wherever you are. Mary, Joseph, the Shepherds and the wise men, all of them heard from heaven in different ways. But, they had to do something with what they heard. They had to believe and act on those words. And, God rewarded their faith and obedience.
Like Mary, you can enjoy very close communion with God your Creator without any barriers. Like Joseph, you can be directed and guided by God in your life, because God desires to direct us every day of our lives. Like the shepherds, you can see heaven open over your life and allow God’s glory to shine upon your life’s circumstances, because the Creator God wants to be your Friend. Like the wise men, you can be supernaturally led and directed by God to succeed in your life’s journey.
Now, this is Christmas and it is all up to you, because you can decide how close you want to be with God this Christmas season; in 2018 and all throughout your life.
(Timothy A. Edward is a business psychology practitioner)