Skip to main content

Silent Night

This week we celebrate Christmas. Homes are decorated with sparkling lights, Christmas trees adorned with ornaments, various images of Santa Claus can be found scattered around, and my favorite, the nativity is displayed. If you weren't familiar with our traditions, you could certainly tell something special is being prepared for.  Something special will be celebrated. 

As we know our King is being born.  On Christmas night we remember the night an infant entered the world to change it forever. God has come to live among His people and make things right in His kingdom.  

To us today, it only makes sense to do the things we do at Christmas time. This is one of the most significant nights in human history. Knowing what we know, it seems only right to spend a month preparing and decorating. What better way to honor the gift God gave to us than by giving our friends and family gifts as symbols of our admiration for them. It's only right that this season of giving should consume our hearts, minds, and bank accounts.

What a stark difference to the actual events of the evening and leading up to that special night.  At this point in history, God has been silent to his people for 400 years. To put that in perspective, 400 years is about 20 generations who never heard or saw a prophet.  Rather than the pomp and circumstance we have grown accustomed to experiencing before Christmas, the preparation for the birth of our Lord came by way of silence. No lights, no trees, and no decorations led up to this most important night. 

For Jesus' parents, preparation came by way of a journey. A census had been called and it required families to return to their "hometown". "So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child" (Luke 2:4‭-‬5 NIV). Nazareth to Bethlehem meant Joseph must walk 4-5 days to make the journey.  His pregnant bride rode a donkey as he led the way. It would have been a dirty and difficult journey. Only to arrive and find no place to rest.  The only available space is a barn, not meant for people, let alone a king. 

God certainly could have done this in a different way.  He could have engaged a forest of trees and a display of light that would make a Florida lightning storm jealous. Instead God chose silence, an arduous journey, and a humble location for His son and our King to be born. 

As you share in the Christmas festivities, consider setting aside time to be still.  Be quiet and simply be with God. Retreat to the silence, perseverance, and simplicity prevalent in that first Christmas.  

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Matt








Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Anchor House: Week 6 Buried Treasure

When I started at Anchor House I committed to write at least one blog per week. Writing is something I enjoy and a way I get to interact with God. I can recall wanting to write about Anchor House in the days before I started, but my knowledge was limited..  To be honest I felt like I knew three things before I joined Anchor House. First,  Anchor House was a mission at Port Manatee (the Seaport, not the jail) Second, I knew it was a mission that my church, Westside Christian Church, supported with our Show Love funds.  Third, I knew God was calling me to serve Him there. However, what happened at Anchor House day to day was something of a mystery to me.   After being here for a few weeks I have learned quite a bit. I know where to look to find out when ships are coming in or departing.  I have learned that I am just tall enough to hit my head where most seafarers don’t. I have learned that flexibility is the key to serving at a seaport. One of th...
Post a Comment
Read more

Bold Like Stephen

I've always admired people who aren't afraid to be bold in their convictions.  It is the kind of boldness that allows them to stand out in the crowd. There is just something different about how these people view and engage the world around them.  The movie “Hacksaw Ridge” portrays a man that exemplifies what I mean by bold.  He was drafted to serve in World War II but refused to bear arms because of religious reasons. Yet, he still managed to receive the Congressional Medal of honor. Without a weapon in his hand, he saved 75 men in the Battle of Okinawa. Despite his objection to violence, he still served his country. Despite his objection to war he found a way to love his neighbor. He was bold.  When I think of bold in the Bible, I think of Stephen. Acts 6:8 says, "Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people." Stephen faced opposition to his teachings. Those that opposed his teachings couldn't ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Do the Work

Sometimes I sit down to write and it just seems like I am trying to write with a pen without ink. There is simply nothing productive coming from the activity. Other times, God just pours it out on me. The ideas flow and the message comes together with ease. More often than not it's the former rather than the latter. It seems God likes to make us work for it. The ones I have to work a bit harder on become the ones I like the most. I think we appreciate the things we have to work for more than the things that come easy. Our LifeGroup recently read about the Miraculous Catch of Fish. You know the story where Peter and his buddies have been out fishing all night and came back to shore completely empty handed. That next morning, Jesus asks them to take him out in the boat. Once out on the water, He has them put the nets back down and they bring in loads and loads of fish. So many fish that two boats almost sank.  I guess Jesus could have just made the fish jump into th...
Post a Comment
Read more