I recently listened to a sermon where the pastor was encouraging his flock to ‘get Christmas right’. What an interesting idea concept, ‘to get Christmas, right’. What could such a phrase mean; getting Christmas right? Can we get it wrong? Does ‘getting it right’ involve buying your kids that gift that makes them squeal when they unwrap the package? Does it mean being sure to get a memento photo with a jolly and bearded man in a red suit? Is it remembering to put the marshmallows on the candied yams? Or is it squeezing in as much family time as possible?
According to this pastor, the first step to getting it right involved remembering the true meaning of the season – that:
2 At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2 (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. 4 And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. 5 He took with him Mary, his fiancée, who was now obviously pregnant.
6 And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. 7 She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them. ~ Luke 2:1-7
But this pastor was correct in pointing out that there is a second part to ‘getting Christmas right’. As important as remembering the historical truth that God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten Son is sharing this message with others. While Christmas is a wonderful time to focus on family, and it is important to do so – it is also serves as the best time to remind ourselves that the Christmas message was intended to be made accessible to all the world.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.10 And the angel said unto them,
Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
~ Luke 2:8-11
Accessibility means being open with sharing the hope and truth of the season with ‘all the people’. So as you approach this holiest of days when God put on flesh, be purposeful to seek out those the Lord has put in your path to share the ‘Good News which is for those people’.
Blessings and Merry Christmas!
-Pastor Tim