I was wondering the other day: Why do we have so many Christmas parties? Sure, it’s the end of the year, and there are gifts to exchange. But it seems to me there must be something more – something more spiritual.
Here’s what I think.
During the Advent season – the season leading up to Christmas – God especially stirs the desire in our hearts for Jesus’ return, and He will not return until His bride has made herself ready; that’s Revelation 19:7-8:
Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
Jesus’ bride will not be dismembered, but perfectly beautiful. Sadly, divisiveness in the church works against this – a harm to Jesus, ourselves, and the world. We can do better.
So, God also stirs our hearts with a desire for community and fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ – a significant part of His bride making herself ready for His return. Jesus has been praying for this very thing for over 2000 years.
“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” John 17:20-21
The opportunity to participate in Jesus’ prayer presents itself in Christmas parties with loved ones, friends, and business associates. Christmas parties can become answers to Jesus’ prayer for our unity. And the how is very simple: Pray for unity before each meeting, genuinely love the people you meet, and look for opportunities to be God’s instrument to them.
Now, for those of you who want to make a bigger difference in this world, I want to take this to another level.
Advent serves to turn our hearts, minds, ears, and eyes to the One in Whom we find hope, peace, joy, and love. The King has come and He is returning. Advent encourages us that He is coming again. In the meantime, we are caught in this in-between time, where evil seeks to enslave us and those we love.
In the in-between, Advent ministers to us, encouraging and equipping us for the challenges of this age and this Christmas season, when we will once again hug and rub elbows with those we love, who may not know salvation in our Lord, Jesus Christ.
The people who walked in darkness
Have seen a great light;
Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,
Upon them a light has shined. Isaiah 9:2
During Advent we pray, “Let there be light again.”
Our Advent is an extension of Israel’s long wait for the Messiah. We wait and hope for his return – the return of the Light of men. In this in-between time, we remember that Jesus has made us the light of the world. As we abide in Him and He abides in us, His light glories from us into a dark world.
Soon, upon His return, all will be light and there will be no need of the sun or the moon. Many of us have family members, friends, and business associates whom we desire to find their way into the light, while there is still time.
The world out there is a frightful place. More and more people in our spheres of influence are suffering from crisis piled upon crisis:
- Loneliness
- Addiction
- Depression
- Hopelessness
- Identity
- Anxiety and Despair
- Suicide
- Meaning
While doing research for a book on conformity with the world, I came across a secular cognitive scientist proposing that the meaning crisis provides the opportunity for religion to once again become the source of meaning and purpose for humanity in the West.
Think about that for a moment: The Age of Reason, which has been destructively influencing our culture for hundreds of years, is finally coming to its end. The Age of Reason is dead, and people are looking for another answer.
A huge door of opportunity has opened up for the people of God.
God has given us the answers to every crisis known to mankind. Not just any answer, but the best answers: Hope, Joy, Peace, Love, Identity, Meaning, Life, the list goes on. If we are born again, we carry these blessings around with us, in Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
There are two important questions we must ask ourselves:
- Are we willing to be God’s instruments of purpose and meaning to the world?
- Are we prepared to do so?
This holiday season – with its gatherings of family, friends, and work associates – is the perfect time to find out what we are made of in regard to the first question. Will we step out of our comfort zones into the lives of God’s lost and wandering children?
Regarding the second question: God has called us to help those currently unprepared but desiring to make a difference in the world around them. Give us a call (770.367.7612).
To close, allow me to ask one final question:
How do we change our perspectives of the world and this holiday season to more intentionally participate in Jesus’ prayer for unity with those in our spheres of influence, and to be God’s instrument of purpose and meaning to the world?
God bless you with His particular answer for you and yours, and grace for the good work.
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
Have a very merry Christmas,
Rob
#iamjustthepen