We have just finished Thanksgiving and now we are on that slippery slope to Christmas and New Year’s. A time where we are reminded that relationships are important. And Christ´s birth is the reason we celebrate. A reminder that His grace for us is to be extended through us, to all our families, friends, and even people we do not yet know. This year, friends, and family have been severely divided on so many issues. I want to take a moment to address that the grace that was extended to us while we were yet enemies of God, is the same grace that should be practiced to those around us. We are called to love God and to love others. This is the whole reason that Jesus came to earth, to restore you to a right relationship with Him and with each other. This is WHY we at IMM has been working so hard through one of the strictest lockdowns globally. To light up people’s world with Jesus and His Love!
To better understand some of the people we are reaching, I started reading a book called Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes. It had an interesting take on the Christmas story in the first chapter. There are two points that I would like to address in this blog as we go into this holiday season.
Hospitality
We are all familiar with the Western idea of the birth story of Jesus…but what if we are wrong?
In the book, they outline that in the culture of the time and even now, there is absolutely no way that Jewish/Middle Eastern townspeople who pride themselves on hospitality as a culture, in the City of David, would let two people of the line of King David and one of them pregnant stay in a cave or barn. When it says no room in the Inn, it was understood that the guest house was full and so they would not have the honor that would normally be accorded them as the guests of the lineage of David. They would have to stay with the family in the common room with the animals.
Why does this matter?
I think that this changes the way we should treat Christmas. This was not about letting people suffer in the cold by themselves or separating them out from everyone else. Rather it was thought that no matter what was going on, more room was made in the house. So, no matter what is going on, this is the season we are to make a place in the main house of our mind and heart for family, friends, and even strangers.
Togetherness
The other idea was that the shepherds were the first to be told and see the babe Jesus! Shepherds in that culture, over the course of hundreds of years, had gone from being a highly regarded profession to the lowest of the low. And yet those are the people whom God sent the first tidings of Good News to on earth. The least of the peoples on Earth.
What does this mean?
I think that this year, we have lost sight of communication and sharing in this thing called life.
If God sent the first cloud-based message to people who did not even count as regular people among the normal populace, then who are we to close ourselves off to friends and families because we do not agree on current ideas. When did we decide that our opinion was more important than being the face of God to share Good News to all people?
Hark…
These are just two quick points to highlight that as we go into the season of Christmas. Remember to look for the loving ties that bind us together over seeking the difference of ideas that divide us. May we choose in this holiday to see people as the image of God to be redeemed and not the enemy of our opinions.
May God´s grace be upon you, as you reconnect with those you love and those you will learn to love. For if you truly believe that He is the reason for the season, then how can you choose to celebrate by rejecting those around you based on how you differ. Are you not called to honor them where they are and still love on them with the grace that God extended to you while you were still his enemy.
So whether you are with people or choosing to isolate, wearing a mask or not, voted one way or another, may we all show the love of Jesus this season and remember that hospitality and togetherness require you to put others ahead of yourself and love them as you love yourself.
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good end to 2020!