Why We'll Always Celebrate Christmas!
The Spirit of Christmas
Wednesday, December 24, 2003
My Prayer Today
Dear God, Thank you for the gift of Jesus! He is the greatest gift I ever received. Help me this day to focus all my energies on celebrating Jesus rather than everything else but Him. Help me not to be so consumed with "my" world that I forget to go back to Bethlehem. When you speak to me, help me to both listen and obey Your words. For I long to follow your ways. Give me a new revelation of You this Christmas eve. Have your way in me today, and help me to see You in those that are around me. May I show your love to others, just as you have shown love to me. I pray this in Your name, Amen.
Bible Verses
Luke 2:8-20
8 "That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them. They were terribly frightened, 10 but the angel reassured them. 'Don't be afraid!' he said. 'I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! 11 The Savior -- yes, the Messiah, the Lord -- has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And this is how you will recognize him: You will find a baby lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth!" 13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others -- the armies of heaven -- praising God: 14 'Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors.' 15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, 'Come on, let's go to Bethlehem! Let's see this wonderful thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.' 16 They ran to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 Then the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to thema bout this child. 18 All who heart the shepherd's story were astonished, 19 but Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their fields and flocks, glorifying and praising God for what the angels had told them, and because they had seen the child, just as the angel had said."
Questions for Reflection
What did the shepherds say to each other after the angels had returned to heaven (verse 15)?
When did the shepherds decide to go? What does this mean, as far as the greatness of this news and the excitement it produced among them?
How did the shepherds describe the event that angel of the Lord spoke about?
Who did the shepherds attribute as the one who spoke to them? Why did they say this?
Questions for Exploration
What happened to all of the sheep after the shepherds left? Did they take the sheep, or leave them? (We may never know, but there is not any mention of them here). What does this mean? Were their jobs more important than this "good news"?
Was there any doubt as to what they should do after the angel spoke? What would have happened if they did not go, and simply would not believe what they had just heard? Do you think the Lord would have still spoken? What does this mean for God's word to us, and how we respond?
Do you think this event was the greatest event those shepherds had, or ever would have, experienced? How so?
Do you think the shepherds had questions as to the conditions they would find this baby ("in a manger") as being unfit for a Savior? Why, or why not?
Questions for Understanding
In what ways can you this Christmas eve, follow the words of the shepherds "Come on, let's go to Bethlehem?" Although you cannot literally go to Bethlehem tonight. What can you do to go to Bethlehem in your mind, and thoughts to remember what took place on that glorious night?
Is there anything in your life right now, that prevents you from celebrating Christmas in the way that you should? What would happen if you did not do those things?
Every message requires an appropriate response. The shepherds heard the message from the angels, and then went to Bethlehem. Has the Lord been speaking to you about something in which you have not done yet? If so, what is keeping you from doing it?
Questions for Application
Have you designated any time these next two days to celebrate Jesus birth -- both with others and by yourself -- in a way that allows for you to "Come on, and go to Bethlehem?" If not, schedule some time that would allow for you to do so.
Have you exhibited the "Spirit of Christmas" this day -- love?
Are you more concerned with gifts, or the Giver of the greatest Gift today? How so?
Thoughts and Reflections
Some of my fondest memories as a child was going to bed on Christmas eve, and waking up on Christmas morning to receive gifts. One of the things that was always difficult for me and my two younger brothers, was what we would do immediately before we opened the gifts. Early Christmas morning, my dad would sit on the couch and read the Christmas story in a picture Bible. We boys would squirm in our seats, looking briefly at the pictures, and hoping it would end soon so that we could open our presents. Looking back, we were much more concerned about the presents than the real meaning of Jesus' birth. Now that I am older, I have come to realize that Christmas is not simply about giving gifts at Christmas, but rather it is about God giving the greatest gift to us. He is the ultimate gift giver! Unfortunately, many people today (including many adults) forget all about the message and the story of Jesus birth. They are more concerned about going to the store and getting gifts. Instead of the shepherd's cry "Come let us go to Bethlehem" it is more like, "Come let us go to the mall." It is not that giving gifts is wrong, for in many ways is does exhibit the Spirit of Christmas -- love. However, Christmas has simply lost its true meaning if we cannot echo the words of the angel's "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all peoples" and know exactly why we are saying this and to whom we are saying it. As you go throughout this Christmas eve, remember that the more you ponder what the real meaning of Christmas is, the more significant it will become. Somehow we seem to equate who you are around as being a significant and a good Christmas, or whether we received a nice present. But whether you are with a group of people or by yourself this day, it cannot be truly awesome until you ponder the true meaning. The success of your Christmas should not be contingent upon who you are with, but rather upon who you worship! Just as I often missed the true meaning of Christmas by being more concerned about the presents under the tree than the Bible my father read, I challenge you this Christmas season to explore the Bible passages relating to Jesus' birth (Matthew 1:18-2:23 and John 1-2:40) and in some way today, find a way to "Come and go to Bethlehem." For the true beauty of Christmas is not found in your gifts, but rather in the Gift of a Savior that was given to us in a manger in a small village called Bethlehem over 2000 years ago.
To view other studies from the Why We Celebrate Christmas series, click here.