We have babies coming out of our ears on the LeMaster side, last baby 28 years ago; now, three in six months. It’s awesome! Precious, precious, precious gifts. It’s caused me to think more and more about the Baby whose birth we celebrate in a few days. The births of our babies in modern day is quite easy-peasy (the mothers may disagree) compared to the circumstances of Jesus’s birth. Conceived in a miraculous way, knit together in His mother’s womb as His Father (Our Father) prescribed. He was born under very harsh conditions. No mother/baby hospital, no heat or AC, no glow lights, birthing plan, labor bed, epidural. The Lamb was immediately on the lam from King Herrod. And then folks who wanted to stop by their house with baby gifts didn’t find them for two years. When they finally caught up with Jesus, they didn’t bring diapers, a bouncy seat or a onesie He’d already outgrown. They brought some pretty cool gifts. They brought gifts fit for Royalty. Gold. Frankincense. Myrrh. Gifts fit for a King. My King. Your King. Our King.
Christmas isn’t about Santa, gifts, cookies, decorating our houses, hanging tinsel, or whether or not there are two different colored white lights on the tree. It’s about the Light that came to Shine in the darkness. It’s about the Light that will never be extinguished. All of preparations for Christmas are a-okay, if we do each of them with the Baby in mind.
Baking cookies, decorating our homes, giving gifts are all good things if we do them to honor our King. If we are just going through the Christmas motions to get-it-over-with, we may need to change our focus. There’s still a few days left to remind ourselves that Jesus is the best gift ever, He’s the Light of the world. I think most of us can agree that our world is a pretty dark place these days. We need a Light. Jesus can be honored in every we meal we make and every cookie we bake, every gift we buy, every gift we wrap, every light we hang — even if the colors don’t match.
We’re not in control of very many things these days but we can be in control of our Christmases. Let’s remember that Christmas is to celebrate the Birthday of the King, our Savior, Christ the Lord.
What Are We Going to do About This Baby? Repost From December 2018
You do know we’re having a baby tomorrow, right? Had you heard that? Are we ready for it? Not Christmas silly, the baby. There’s lots of preparation that takes place before a baby comes, right? Babies change our lives, completely upside down, right? Not only a newborn coming into the world, but in a way when the baby arrives, we too are reborn. Old habits, old routines, chucked right out the window. Right?
And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. 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 room for them in the village inn. Luke 2:6-7
So, what are we going to do about this baby? Anything? Remember the story of Lazarus, Jesus’ friend? Lazarus died. Jesus raised him from the dead.
Many of the people were with Mary believed in Jesus when they saw this happen. But some went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. Then the leading priests and Pharisees called the high council together to discuss the situation. “What are we going to do?” they asked each other. John 11:45-47
See there, the Pharisees and the leading priests were asking the same thing. What are we going to do about this baby?
You know, a baby changes everything. Babies, this Baby, changed the course of the world. Will this Baby change us? What will happen if we don’t allow ourselves to be changed, to experience new birth, to be reborn?
So, what are we going to do about this Baby? You know, the one swaddled at birth and placed in a manger. You know, the one swaddled at death and placed in a tomb.
In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and He was God. He was in the beginning with God. He created everything there is. Nothing exists that he didn’t make. Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone. This light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. John 1:1
The light that gives light to all mankind left behind the cloths in the manger and the cloths in the tomb. He was born! He did die! He is risen! Indeed.
So, what are we going to do about this baby?
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head. The stars in the sky look down where He lay. The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
The cattle are lowing, the poor Baby awakes. But little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes. I love thee, Lord Jesus! Look down from the sky. And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh. Be near me Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay. Close by me forever and love me, I pray. Bless all the dear children in thy tender care. And take us to heaven, to live with thee there.