Have you ever experienced the Christmas letdown? I sure have. The gifts have been brought, wrapped and given. The food has been prepared and eaten. The guests have come and gone. All that is left is the clean up.
I remember feeling this letdown moments after our wedding. Don’t laugh, I’m serious. Months on end, we prepared for the big day. When it finally arrived, we moved through it like robots. The “I do’s” were said, pictures taken and hugs given. As we drove away, the letdown set in. I could feel it. I thought, “That was it?” We did all the right things, but at the end of the day, we were just going through the motions.
If I’m being honest, Christmas often feels like this. When it is all said and done, I’m left feeling empty and a little disappointed. Why? Because I’m just going through the motions.
When I reflect on last weeks blog, I lost my Christmas JOY, I am encouraged to read the story! Envision yourself there, that night so long ago. Christmas is the prelude to all that is to come. It is the beginning of God’s glory for us which later becomes God’s glory in us.
Going through the motions of Christmas is not good enough. I want to experience the real thing for myself. It’s strange but Christ somehow gets lost in Christmas. He’s just a little baby, born on a quiet night. As I begin cleaning up, how often do I throw Jesus out with the crumpled wrapping paper?
But as I reread Luke 2:8-12 NIV, I am reminded.
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Imagine yourself standing before an angel and the glory of God shining all around you. The angel reassures you, handing you a gift, the first Christmas card. It reads, “Good news! Today, Jesus has been born to you! This information will bring you so much joy! It is not just for you, but for everyone! ”
I take a breath and let the glory of the moment warm me. Wow! This is so exciting! This isn’t just a baby that has been born to a couple down the road. No! This baby has been born to me and to you! Not for me but to me. There is a big difference.
Colossians 1:27 says, “To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
Romans 5:2 says, “And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.” This glory is what God intended humans to be. We are the glory of God!
The glory that ‘shone round’ that wondrous night of Christ’s birth is the Glory of God. When we trust God and Jesus, glory is birthed in us. Head knowledge instantly becomes heart knowledge. We are no longer going through the motions. We experience glory and become that glory! We have become what God intended us to be!
Yes, it is the day after Christmas and we think we should start cleaning up. Fight the urge. We still have one more gift to open. It’s the greatest gift ever given, wrapped in little more than a rag. It’s the gift you’ve been waiting for. As you receive this gift, embrace Christmas for everything that it is. Allow the glory of God to shine around you. Christmas isn’t over. This is just the beginning!
Let us pray:
God of Christmas, birth in us your glory today. Let it be for all those to see, so that your name may be glorified from this day forward. In Jesus Name, Amen. -M
