The week after Christmas can sometimes be difficult. Post-Christmas blues are real and are a very depressing time in many people’s lives.
All the planning and pre-Christmas hype has come and gone. The tree is totally dried out, and the decorations are just not as charming as when we first put them up. Most of us have eaten more than we should have, spent too much money, and used up our vacation time. Are we really expected to just pick up where we left off and live real life again? It’s somewhat of a helpless feeling isn’t it?
We need the real meaning of Christmas to change our lives (and thoughts) long past Christmas day. Let’s think for a minute. What did life look like for the baby Jesus a couple days after His birth? He was certainly completely dependent on others. He couldn’t eat, talk, or change His messy self.
It says in Luke 2:16, “They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger.” The image of this scene shakes me to the core. A helpless babe lying in a manger.
I’ve been blessed to witness quite a few births and hold a number of newborns. The birthing process itself is nothing short of miraculous. The truth of God Himself surrendering His position of strength and control to humbly and helplessly lie in a manger, is profound. This expression of love is beyond me. It humbles me to even try and think about it.
God wants us to know Him as He is: merciful, grace filled, and approachable. It’s mind boggling (to say the least) to think that our miraculous God/Creator loved us so much that He came to us as a helpless baby.
My friends, shake off those post-Christmas blues! You can’t forget that what we just celebrated, the birth of Jesus, really did happen. Jesus is the Savior of the world. God is with us and He is just as approachable right now as He was when He lay helplessly in a manger. Fall into His arms and get ready for an amazing 2018. Why? Because God will be there!
No longer blue,
Mac
Posted in A Word from the Pastor