December 2023
“What do we need to do?” That’s a question that’s asked a lot these coming weeks in preparation for Christmas. Maybe there are cards to be filled out and sent, presents to be bought and wrapped, trees to be decorated, baking to be done. All of these things are well and good, but by themselves they don’t really get us ready for Christmas.
Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, shares what he believes we need to do to get ready for the Lord’s coming. He begins chapter 4 of his letter telling us we need to rejoice. Why are we to rejoice? We are to rejoice because the Lord is at hand. As Christians, we know in our hearts that God loved us so much He gave His only Son to be born into the world and become God with us. We can rejoice when we consider God’s great plan fulfilled in the Babe of Bethlehem.
What else do we need to do to be ready for the celebration of the Lord’s coming? Paul continues his encouragement of the Philippians and us by writing that we need to, “Let our reasonableness be known to everyone.” What do you think would happen if the basis of all we said and did was reasonableness? Children would reply to a request from parents, “Sure, that’s a reasonable thing to ask. I’ll be glad to do it.” Family members would really listen to one another and always be reasonable in their responses. What a change it would make in being prepared for celebrating Christmas.
Paul goes on with his letter, “The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” We need to not let worries or upsets stifle our joy in the salvation that Christmas proclaims. We need to not let anxieties that the holiday time can bring derail our celebration. Instead, we need to go to the Lord in prayer, giving thanks for His great gift of love, and letting Him know what help we need from Him. He is at hand every time we fold our hands in prayer.
Finally, Paul writes about what happens when we rejoice in the Lord’s coming, let our reasonableness be known to everyone, and go to the Lord with thanksgiving in our hearts. He lets us know that “The peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” God’s peace will establish protecting care in our lives. No one fully understands how this works, but we recognize it when the restive heart finds rest in the Lord. We recognize it when insatiable desires give way to contentment in the Lord. We recognize it when nervous fear dissolves into quiet trust in the Lord.
What do we need to do to prepare for Christmas? I trust you see it’s not perhaps what you would expect. It doesn’t really have to do with what we do at all. It has to do with our attitude and how we go about doing whatever we do. If we rejoice, are reasonable and keep in thankful contact with the Lord, we will have a truly peace-filled Christmas. That is my prayer for us all. May God bless our preparation and celebration of God’s life giving gift of love.
Spreading, Serving and Sharing with You,
Pastor Carl