Some things are unthinkable! I mean...
- The Vatican without the Pope – unthinkable!
- Peanut butter without jelly – unthinkable!
- Roy Rogers without Trigger – unthinkable!
- Oreo cookies without milk – unthinkable!
In fact, I’d go one step further: Christmas without children – undoable. I mean to experience Christmas -- to do Christmas -- you must do it with children.
Not necessarily your own children. We don’t all have children. But children, somewhere, someplace. For “…unto us a child is born [at Christmas],” – Isaiah 9:6 reminds us. “…unto us a son is given…” (Isaiah 9:6).
But also, interestingly -- a leader. For as Isaiah 11 goes on to note -- the messianic child, is a pacesetter, for at Christmas “…a little child [will lead] them” (Isaiah 11:6).
Not necessarily your own children. We don’t all have children. But children, somewhere, someplace. For “…unto us a child is born [at Christmas],” – Isaiah 9:6 reminds us. “…unto us a son is given…” (Isaiah 9:6).
But also, interestingly -- a leader. For as Isaiah 11 goes on to note -- the messianic child, is a pacesetter, for at Christmas “…a little child [will lead] them” (Isaiah 11:6).
The setting in Isaiah 11 is a small village, much like the village of Bethlehem. There are simple buildings and animals all around -- and -- the need for leadership; I mean someone must lead the animals out to pasture and back at night. And so the custom -- at least in Isaiah’s time -- was for children to do that. In other words, children, not adults, would herd the animals in and out -- providing guidance, focus, and inspiration.
Children do the same for us. They offer guidance, focus, and inspiration. And so as we strive for a Christmas to remember – we need to look to the kids -- allowing them, to lead the way!
Children do the same for us. They offer guidance, focus, and inspiration. And so as we strive for a Christmas to remember – we need to look to the kids -- allowing them, to lead the way!
That happens as we...
Welcome Interruptions And The Spontaneous.
Adults tend to dislike interruptions and the spontaneous, but kids love interruptions and the spontaneous!
In Mark 10 the disciples are really upset. Why a bunch of kids are running up to Jesus and interrupting their routine. But Jesus is not amused. Oh not at the children -- but at the disciples! In fact, Mark tells us he is indignant (Mark 10:14) -- which means literally, very, very displeased. “Don’t push these children away. Don’t ever get between them and me.” – Jesus remarks. “These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom. Mark this: unless you accept God’s kingdom… [As]…a child -- you’ll never get in…” (Mark 10:14-15, The Message).
Pretty direct. But Jesus knows kids are crucial because kids disarm.
Disarm? Yes, disarm – for kids do interrupt -- disturbing our routine – which is critical to discovering -- God’s routine.
Teddy Roosevelt was a great president, and his kids were a great part of his greatness. Why they were legendary, known as the White House Gang, interrupting the pompous, shallow ways of Washington. Why Roosevelt’s five children slid down White House staircases on trays, rolled through White House hallways on skates, even sneaking a live pony onto the White House elevator, up to the second floor.
But the biggest kid was Roosevelt himself; why on more than one occasion, cabinet meetings were delayed, because Roosevelt was engaged in a pillow fight with one or more of his sons. The result was a new joy in Washington, as somber, lifeless bureaucrats became disarmed, one reporter noted,
“… [much like children, captivated by] “…a [colorful] circus parade… [followed by a lively] steam calliope…”That’s what God wants at Christmas; He wants our sober ways disarmed by the joy of His parade and His lively steam calliope!
Listen: ponies and pillow fights aren’t for everyone -- but find some child-like way to interrupt your routine this holiday season!
But children lead in yet other ways, as kids...
‘Cut’ To What’s Really Important, To What Really Matters.
Have you noticed: kids have a way of cutting to the core, of identifying what’s really important.
It’s interesting as the child leads the way in Isaiah 11, the result is insightful, razor sharp knowledge, as -- “…the earth [is filled] with the knowledge of the Lord…” (Isaiah 11:9). But kids have a way of doing that. They cut to the most important things.
Bruce Lawson tells a great story about his friend Charlie --who was a huge nature lover. Well as Charlie was driving up the Florida coast with his family, Charlie saw a sign for a Naturist Camp. Why Charlie assumed it was a camp for nature lovers – and so he headed his family in that direction. But soon Charlie was taken back. Why as he and his family entered the Naturist Camp they discovered it was, in reality -- a nudist camp! And sure enough, right off the bat, they encountered a whole bunch of campers -- on bicycles -- on a congested road -- stark naked. Well at that Charlie’s five-year-old son Joey got real animated -- I mean real animated! I mean his eyes got as big as saucers! ‘Look Daddy!!’ Joey said. ‘Look!! – Those campers aren’t wearing…their safety helmets!!” (adapted, Bruce Lawson, What God What’s You To Know)
But that’s what kids see. They see what’s really important!
Sure kids get sidetracked by the same stuff that sidetracks us, but eventually, they penetrate the stuff, speaking simple words of truth. And so must we; we must penetrate the stuff -- for God calls us beyond the tantalizing -- to what’s really crucial.
In fact, one of the Messiah’s main tasks is to help us see what we do not see, and hear what we do not hear; for as Messiah comes, Isaiah 35 reminds us:
“…the eyes of the blind [will] be opened and the ears of the deaf [will be] unstopped…” (Isaiah 35:5)
And so where are you not seeing and hearing crucial things?
A few suggestions:
- 1) Jettison Perfection. Often we miss Christmas because we insist Christmas must be perfect; you know the perfect menu -- the perfect tree. But God doesn’t want your perfection. God wants your heart.
- 2) Let People In. Relationships and family are what really count! But you’ve got ‘open the door’ -- and let people in. That’s especially hard when you’re hurting. But you’ve got to open the door and let people in.
- 3) Major In Hope. Major in the infectious…the positive! It’s interesting, on average, children laugh 300 times a day -- whereas adults, on average, laugh only 15 times a day. And so children, once again, lead the way, modeling the infectious promise of life. Frankly, we must do the same. Not because we’re happy -- but because we hope.
Frank Harrington tells of encountering an infectious, hopeful kid on an elevator. I mean this boy was whistling up a storm! ‘Son’ – Harrington said. ‘You seem to be having a mighty, good day!!’ ‘Yes sir’ the boy replied. ‘You see, I’ve never lived this day before!!”
Wow. What an attitude, a hopeful attitude. We too can have a hopeful attitude – for Christ has come – bringing us -- the promise of new life and a new day!
And so...
Bubble Over…Pouring Yourself Out!
Like an effervescent child, spill over – giving yourself away this Christmas! For ultimately the child in Isaiah 11, represents a Messiah who stands
“…as a banner for [all people] -- [to whom] the nations…rally… [for he is] a place of rest -- [that is] -- glorious…” (Isaiah 11:10).
It’s interesting: the inspiration for the banner Isaiah notes is an actual banner on poles. Placed high on a hill, the banner would signal solders, battle-weary solders to come back to camp, after weeks of battle. But not just any camp -- an encampment of rest, or literally in the Hebrew, an encampment, a refuge of comfort and abundance.
All around us are folks who need an encampment, a refuge of comfort and abundance. For all around us are battle-weary folks. Weary of battling unemployment – illness – disillusionment -- worry – cynicism -- and fear. And so we too need to raise up a banner! We too need to reach out – just like an effervescent child -- helping folks find the comfort and abundance of Jesus!
Some years ago, an amazing thing happened in Philadelphia. A couple at the Aramingo Diner finished breakfast and went up to pay the cashier. But guess what: they didn’t just pay for themselves, they also paid for the diners next to them. But it gets better. In due course, those diners paid for the diners next to their table. But it gets even better. Those diners then paid for the diners next to their table. And the pattern continued all day. For the next 5 hours the pattern continued, as diner after diner, paid for the diners next to them. Seems folks were so awestruck by the generosity shown to them, they decided to continue the generosity, instructing waitresses to tell folks: ‘Merry Christmas! Someone has picked up your tab!!’ Lynn Willard, one of the waitresses involved, was giddy over the whole thing. I mean it “…was [just] magical. I had tears in my eyes… [I mean] I’ve been here for 10 years, and I’ve never seen anything [as remarkable as] this…”
But that’s Christmas! For...
- Christmas is the remarkable!
- Christmas is the magical!
- Christmas is the awesome!
And it all starts as we bubble over, giving ourselves away!
Bubble over and give yourself away! Like an effervescent child, spill over this Christmas. For it’s only as we become like a child, bubbling over, that we truly discover the incredible power of this holy season.
Discover the power of this holy season!
Give yourself away!
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.
And that child, that Jesus, leads the way, reminding us, Christ-likeness is much akin to childlikeness. In fact:
“…unless we accept God’s Kingdom… [as] a child -- [we] never get in.” (Mark 10:14-15)
Accept God’s Kingdom as a child, experiencing Christmas with effervescent knowledge -- effervescent joy -- and effervescent hope -- disarmed by God’s parade -- and God’s steam calliope!
For...
- Jesus does come “…as a banner for… [all] people…” (Isaiah 11:10).
- Jesus does come as a place of comfort, a place of abundance, a place of “…rest – [for all of us], [that is truly] -- glorious…”!! (Isaiah 11:10).
Yes, glorious!
Amen Pastor Paul!!! thank you and Merry Christmas to all!
ReplyDeleteAnd merry Christmas to you, dear sister!
Delete