Faith: confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; assurance about things we cannot see (Hebrews 11:1).
I spent the afternoon yesterday with friends who just had their fourth baby. You forget how small and helpless little babies are until you watch them sleep. They are so innocent. So precious. So reliant on other people.
As I watched this little baby sleep I was reminded of the baby Jesus – a tiny little king sent to bring peace to the world…. a tiny little Saviour sent to offer hope and light and escape from this complicated life.
It takes faith to believe in such a simple and uncomplicated message, doesn’t it?
If the birth of Jesus were in today’s day, the manger interior would be set up like a show room. The manger exterior would be dazzling in Vegas neon lights. The animals would have famous animal trainers on hand. Mary & Joseph would be sportin’ runway fashion. National and International news reporters would be on site to capture the buzzing birth announcement. And social media would be going crazy in hash tag frenzy: #HesSoCute #KingJesus #ItsGoingDown
But it doesn’t happen that way…. and that’s the beauty of the Christmas story.
Simple.
Uncomplicated.
Hopeful.
It takes incredible faith to hold steadfast to a God that is simple in love, uncomplicated in assurance and hopeful in promise. And it takes even more faith to actually live our lives – especially the holiday season – in this manner.
“That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Christmas idea: spend the day praying for your friends, family, neighbours and strangers – pray that hearts would come alive in awareness that CHRISTmas is about less, not more.
Christmas prayer: Thank you, Lord, for the gift of faith. When all around we are pressured to rush, You invite us to rest. When all around we are challenged to compete, You invite us to release. When all around we are expected to accomplish, You invite us to partake. Faith in Your story and Your message is to hold steadfast to a life that believes in simple love, uncomplicated assurance and hopeful promise. I place full faith and trust in that message, lifestyle and pace this holiday season. Amen.
