“I hate to admit it, but I'm thinking
of putting up my Christmas tree”, a customer confided to me
yesterday. On November 10th? My
eyes bugged out in response.
But he is not alone. It appears that
Christmas is intent on coming early this year, in our thoughts, our
shopping trips, and our decorating ideas. Maybe the most certain sign
of Christ's premature birth this year is the controversy in our
conversations online. From biblical days on, just the mention of His
Name has caused kings to kill babies, scholars to squabble over how
best to suppress His influence, and the faithful to fight over detail
in doctrine. For a Man who came to give us peace, His presence
sometimes seems to bring anything but.
While Christ was on earth He delighted
in challenging conventional thinking, attacking apathetic attitudes
and raising spirits (as well as bodies) from the dead. From His
question to Peter in Matthew 16:15, “Who do you say that I
am?” to His actions in our lives today, He is constantly
challenging us to rethink our view of Him, examine the motives behind
our actions, and consider new ideas about who and what He wants to be
in our lives. And if He can do so with something as simple as a
coffee cup, who's to say He's not in Heaven drinking a peppermint
mocha and laughing with delight at the latest brew-ha-ha He's stirred
up?
None of His actions were without
purpose, however, and perhaps the current hysteria has one, as well.
Christians have long decried the seeming removal of Christ from
Christmas, from the elimination of nativity scenes in civic holiday
displays to the change in our holiday greetings to the absence of
religious carols in school Christmas concerts. Starbucks' change from
a “Merry Christmas” message to a generic red background on their
holiday cups seemed to be one more instance in a long line of the
same. And so when asked by a barista what name to write on the cup,
some folks are coming up innovative monikers in a effort to get His
Name back where they think it should be.
Except that Christ doesn't want to see
His Name on that coffee cup; He's looking to see yours as
the Christmas message of the season this year. His was born in a
stable initially to be born in our hearts eventually, and if He lives
there now, then He can't be removed, no matter how the holiday
celebrations around us play out. His name is proclaimed in your every
generous action, every kind word, every holiday hug and in the
abundance of love you give away everywhere you go and in everything
you do this holiday season. You are the light of the world;
Christ in you is His message this year.
Maybe we're rushing New Year's too, but
at the risk of celebrating all the holidays at once,let's “take
a cup of kindness yet” and offer it to a thirsty world, letting our
actions and love rather than a pen write Christ's name on our
expressions of holiday cheer.
“You are the light of
the world...Let your light so shine before men, that they may see
your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
(Matthew 5:14,16 NKJV)
Excellent! My sentiments exactly, and you've stated it so well. Thanks for sharing!
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