Monday Meditation

"This is reality, not religion." - Pastor Leake

Such a powerful statement. The world without question lumps "Christianity" into that general realm we call religion. But for the Believer in Christ, it is much more than "a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs" (dictionary.com). We do adhere to a set of beliefs etc. and in a superhuman agency (God Himself!), and we do devote ourselves to Him and have the "rituals" of the Lord's Supper and baptism (which by the way do not save us but are expressions of obedience by a heart already justified by Christ). We also have a code of conduct we go by, not a code we made up, but a code given by Almighty God Himself and preserved through the ages. But to us, Christianity is more than rote religion.

It is TRUTH. Which means it is REALITY.

Especially during this Christmas season, it's so important to remember this fact. How easy it is to spout off to your young sons, "We celebrate Christmas because it's Jesus' birthday." Or to sing with your husband carols you've sung since you were a young tyke. Or to get lost in dreaming of opening your daughter's hair bow bands on Christmas morning -- so she can finally have some head decor since her hair follicles are taking their sweet time. Rushing here and there finalizing lists. Attending wonderful Christmas parties and gatherings to celebrate the season. But is all of that reality to you, or just something warm and fuzzy to do every year? Lots of extras come with the Reason for the Season. And unfortunately, the extras are the grit and grime that often muddy the pristine snow.

REALITY: something that constitutes a real or actual thing, as distinguished from something that is merely apparent.

So instead of picturing baby Jesus and His nativity scene as that of your Little People Nativity set, remember...

Mary was a real young woman living her own life, like many of you may know (or be!), when the most glorious being she'd ever seen burst into sight. She heard an angel straight out of heaven tell her she was going to be pregnant -- her life of purity gone in an instant to outsiders looking in but not believing in God's plan. Joseph was a real man who loved this girl Mary, wanting to live his life with her and start a family, when his dreams were suddenly dashed as she told him she had a real baby in her womb with an outlandish story as to why. He also heard the angel tell him of God's plan; and in obedience, he instantly tarnished his own reputation among the outsiders by still taking this "impure" woman as his wife and the "illegitimate" Child as his own. When He was born, Jesus was a real tiny baby with a floppy head, teensy fingers, and little grunts and cries. He nursed, cooed, peed, slept, burped, probably even went cross eyed a few times. Creator-God became the most helpless, precious being on His own earth. He had to learn to walk, talk, eat, play, count, read, dress Himself, trim a beard...all of the things boys grow up doing. All of this was REAL! Just as real as the water He turned to the best wine. As real as the fish and bread that fed 5,000 people. As real as the kiss Judas gave Him. As real as the splinters in His back and thorns on His brow.

As real as His dead body coming back to life, having opened the door for us to enter into His real heaven.

It's too easy for us to tell the "story" of Christmas. Why not first internalize the reality of Christmas? When you hold your baby or play with your kids, think about how Mary did the same with Jesus. That should blow your mind right there -- she KNEW He was God's Son sent to save herself and the world, and yet she was charged with raising the God of the Universe from birth?? That's just one example of the realities we should be focusing on. Oh, what a mysterious majesty this Reason for the Season is!

There's a reason we celebrate. This Christmas, commit to making Christ not just a religion to you, but a reality.

"Mary did you know...when you kiss your little Baby, you've kissed the face of God!"