What is it about putting up a few twinkle lights and decorations that make us breathe a little slower and smile a little more?
I remember growing up and driving to my grandma’s house. She had been a widow my entire life. She lived simply but her house was full of love (and good food). Going to grandma’s house was always fun so the closer we got, the more I recognized the landscape, and became excited.
I think that’s how it is with Christmas too.
Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
I’ll be honest– I’ve always considered these verses to be a reminder to go to church. But today, the Holy Spirit shed some different light on it. Christmas is first and foremost about Christ. Christmas is our celebration of the fulfillment of God’s love and promise to send “His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
As the day of Christmas approaches, the landscape changes– the lights and trees come out, the melodies in the stores change to songs about jingle bells and sleigh rides, and the heart of people everywhere shifts to giving instead of taking. We actually “stir up love and good works.”
And although there are some who sadly don’t gather with friends and family for various reasons, our exhortation is to gather more, not less. Why? Because God loves relationships. He created families. He is our Father– and healthy families reflect His heart.
I realize not everyone is a believer. Not every home is happy. For some, Christmas is hard because loved ones have passed and are no longer with us. But this is another reason to share Christ at Christmas– to stir up love and good works. “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost” (Luke 19:10 NLT).
Some have never known the love of Jesus. Some have temporarily lost their way, having been influenced by the world. And some, have simply lost the Christmas spirit. What a great opportunity for the rest of us to shine our light a little brighter, smile a little bigger, be a little kinder, and speak of Jesus a little louder.
Tis the season to change the landscape.
The night Jesus was born, the shepherds were going about life as usual. Living out in the field, watching over their flocks, nothing seemed out of the ordinary– until suddenly “there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:13-14). The hearts of the shepherds were so stirred by this moment, they had to go see for themselves.
And that’s how it can be now too.
Hearts can be stirred this time of year to search for the Christ.
As you and I stir up love and good works, as we see the day approaching, as we take advantage of the changing landscape, heaven will gladly water the seeds of faith to welcome more people into a relationship with our Heavenly Father.
Tis the season! Let’s take full advantage of it!
