broken-christmas

  This is a reflective post… primarily for those who are struggling during this Christmas season…

  There is a lot of brokenness and hurt in this world.  Even in “good” families, there are many reasons for people to mourn, be in distress, and troubled. That makes Christmas a difficult time for many…

  I personally know of:  Families spending their first Christmas without loved ones… families that have just found out cancer has invaded their lives… friends who’s family is falling apart… people who’s children are rebelling against God… people who are possibly experiencing the consequences of years of their own rebellion… people who have physical issues that prevent them from enjoying life... (Insert your own personal story {Or stories} here).  It’s hard to celebrate the King of Peace when we are hurting and our lives are broken…

Yet those are the reasons Jesus came.  That is why we celebrate the time of year called “Christmas.”  Consider…

    Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2  to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn…

    Luke 4:16 And (Jesus) came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. 17 And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, 18  “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19  to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”  22 And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth.

    Matthew 8:16  That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. 17  This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.” 

    Matthew 12:17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: 18  “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.  I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.  19 He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets; 20 a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory; 21 and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”

Jesus said in John 10:10, “I have come that they (His children) might have life and have it more abundantly!”  

Really?!  If that’s true, why do so many of His children experience so much hardship, trial, and brokenness in their life?  Was He telling the truth, or just saying what sages said in that day? Was he being honest, or was he holding a piece of candy just out of reach that might or might not be true?  How can Jesus be the King of Peace given what we see in the world?  (Pause… Reflect)

Jesus was not blowing smoke… He wasn’t being philosophical… He was proclaiming TRUTH.  Consider Paul’s life.  Read about the hardship he experienced as a result of following Jesus…

    2 Corinthians 11:23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27  in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.

After all that… which is much more than any Christian in America suffers today (In other words, Paul had it tougher than either you or I do)… read carefully how the Apostle reflected upon his life.  Because of Jesus…

    2 Corinthians 4:7  But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.

   Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6  do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.  11 I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through (Christ) who strengthens me.

Compare Paul’s life experiences with what he wrote about those same things!  Reflect… Meditate… Think… Ruminate!

The season we call Christmas is God doing what we cannot do.  He took the first step… when we couldn’t.  He came to us… when we were incapable.  He did everything to save us, because we couldn’t do anything to save ourselves.  And the reward is… HIM!

The reward is not money… big houses… diamonds… promotions… or health in this life.  The reward is eternity with Him… in heaven… with His Father.

Now go back to the beginning of this post and re-read the Scripture from Isaiah.  Re-read the fulfillment in the Gospels.  Re-read Paul’s understanding.

If you’re struggling… and we all do at times… our prayer needs to be, “God give me more of you!  Reveal yourself to me!  Manifest your presence in my life!  If it takes this to know you better, then so be it!”

The Abundant Life is not “Your Best Life Now,” it is knowing Jesus Christ in all His fullness.  The Abundant Life is letting everything else go so that you can gain Christ!  Maybe God is whispering in our ear… “Let it all go that you may know me.  Turn your back on your 401k, I’m better.  Forget all the things you think are riches and follow me because my burden is easy and my yoke is light.”