Today’s Reading: John 12:1-3; 2 Corinthians 2:14-17; Psalm 100
Are you ready for Christmas? I have so much more to do — Christmas cards to send, gifts to pick out, stockings to fill, and groceries to buy. I am very ready to spend time with my family but not quite ready for the celebration.
But maybe this is the question I should be answering — Am I ready for Christmas? Am I leaning into the meaning behind our Christmas celebrations? Is my heart anticipating the worship of the Christ child again this year? Am I ready for the Lord to do something new in my heart and life this Christmas? I do not want to get so caught up in the traditions of the holiday that I forget the true meaning behind Christmas.
AM I PREPARED FOR CHRISTMAS?
Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead. A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. – John 12:1-2a
Jesus was coming and they were throwing a party! Mary, Martha and Lazarus were preparing for Jesus to come to dinner. The Passover celebration was just days away, but tonight it was about Jesus and all that he had done in their lives. Lazarus had been dead for three days but, with a simple command from Jesus, Lazarus had stood up and walked out of the grave. Their hearts were still exploding with gratitude that their brother was there today to be a part of this special dinner party.
This morning is a great opportunity for us to look back with gratitude on everything Jesus has done for us this year and in previous years. What prayers has He answered; in what ways has He provided for us this year? This remembrance could have the potential to prepare our hearts and minds for all the Lord wants us to experience this Christmas. It will help us get our hearts focused on Jesus.
Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance. – John 12:3
Here is another way in which Mary was prepared for an evening with Jesus. She had expensive perfume prepared and her heart was postured to fall at the feet of Jesus and worship him in a way that no one else was. This gift was not lost on Jesus; he saw the heart of Mary that day.
THE HOUSE WAS FILLED WITH THE FRAGRANCE.
Consider with me the impact you could have on all of your Christmas celebrations over the next few days if your mind is prepared and your heart is postured for worship. What if the house was filled with the presence of Jesus and the fragrance of praise? What if your efforts to keep Jesus in the center of the celebration could have a tremendous impact on your loved ones? What if your worship filled the house with a fragrance that was sweet and beautiful for all to experience?
But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this? – 2 Corinthians 2:14-16
LET’S ALLOW GOD TO TAKE OUR HEARTS CAPTIVE THIS CHRISTMAS.
Lord, thank you for this reminder to refocus before we get any farther into the Christmas weekend celebrations. Lord, we give you our hearts. Take them captive — may your desires be reflected in ours, and may our actions give you glory. Thank you for the gift of your Son and for the miracle of His birth. We bow down and worship you this morning with shouts of joy and a thankful heart. Amen.
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his[a];
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations. – Psalm 100