Dear Friends and Fellow Children of God,
As Kathy and I, and our group, are traveling through
Austria and Germany, we somehow hit on a topic that reminded our daughter,
Mary, of a story. It’s a story she can
tell about her dad – that’s me. I think
those might be Mary’s favorite kind of stories.
J
Mary told Kaycee Nufer, “So, every year my dad goes into
Hallmark to buy an ornament for my mom.
He looks and looks for something really about the Christmas story, the
birth of Jesus. Those ornaments are hard
to find. So, he finally chooses an
ornament and he then tells, or lectures,
the salesperson behind the counter that, ‘It is Christmas time, and Hallmark
needs more ornaments that are really about Christmas.’” Hmmm.
There may be a little
embellishment, but for the most part that is a true story.
I think the reason Mary told that story is that our tour
is visiting Christmas markets around Europe.
There probably are actually more ornaments and decorations here that are
about the real Christmas story. There is
much in these markets which is actually about the birth of God’s Son,
Jesus. But, there are also plenty of
ornaments about Santa, and winter, and skating.
There are lots of traditional cookies, and candies, and drinks. Christmas trees are beautifully placed
everywhere. There are lights and
stars. In other words, even though a
person might be able to find Jesus in the commercial activities in Austria and Germany
more easily than in America, there are still perhaps a majority of products in
the Christmas markets that aren’t necessarily about Jesus and His birth.
Our tour of Christmas markets is intended to help us
focus our hearts on Jesus as we observe Advent and celebrate Christmas in our
own lives this year. We are spending
time in daily devotions. We have asked
ourselves the question, “How can we see through all the distractions to really
focus on Jesus, the real reason for Christmas?”
In our devotions we have also been reading and listening
to what Martin Luther preached and said about Christmas. When preaching on Luke 2 these are some of Luther’s
words:
“First, behold how very ordinary
and common things are to us that transpire on earth, and yet how high they are
regarded in heaven. . . The evangelist shows how, when they [Mary and Joseph]
arrived at Bethlehem, they were the most insignificant and despised, so that
they had to make way for others until they were obliged to take refuge in a
stable, to share with the cattle, lodging, table, bedchamber and bed, while
many a wicked man sat at the head in the hotels and was honored as lord. No one noticed, or was conscious of what God
was doing in that stable. He lets the
large houses and costly apartments remain empty, lets their inhabitants eat and
drink, and be merry; but this comfort and treasure are hidden from them. O what a dark night this was for Bethlehem,
that was not conscious of that glorious light!
See how God shows that he utterly disregards what the world is, has, or
desires; and furthermore that the world shows how little it knows or notices
what God is, has, and does. . . . What
had Bethlehem when it did not have Christ?
What have they now who at that time had enough? What do Joseph and Mary lack now, although at
that time they had no room to sleep comfortably? . . .”
(Sermons for
Advent and Christmas, Martin Luther, pages 93, 94, 96, Italics added by me.)
Did you hear that?
In other words, a person can have all the trappings of Christmas, but
miss the real treasure – Jesus. But, if
a person has Jesus, that person already has everything they need.
I like the way St. Paul talks about the meaning of
Christmas, how Paul explains God’s Son, Jesus, becoming a man to save us. “4 But
when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under
law, 5 to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of
sons. 6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts,
the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." 7 So you are no longer a
slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.” (Galatians
4:4-7) God sent His only begotten
Son, so that we might also live as Children of God. We are not just children by God’s giving of
life to us through creation. We are God’s
eternal children because, by faith, we have Jesus in our hearts.
How will your Christmas observance and celebration this
year cut through all the distractions and receive the real, eternal, gift of
life in the Son of God?
A Child of God, Seeking the Christ Child in Christmas,
Pastor Jonathan
P.S. Kathy and I are on a trip to Christmas markets
in Germany and Austria with our daughter, Mary, and the Nufers and the
Summers. Here is a LARGE collection of pictures from our trip. https://photos.app.goo.gl/QNwzybg7ckYkDRHm9
However,
here are the pictures divided by place and date.
******
ABOUT THIS DEVOTION – I am now retired as senior pastor
of St. John Lutheran in Palmer, AK. This devotion was previously titled,
“Thoughts from the Pastor.” However, with life’s changes I will now call
it, “Journeys Through Life as a Child of God.” I am only
sending this message to those who have asked to receive it. If you know
someone else who desires to receive this message have them e-mail me at jonrock53@mtaonline.net. You
can also view this message on my Facebook page.
******
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