It is easy to have our eyes glaze over as we read a story that we have heard over and over again. It is easy to allow the Biblical narrative of the incarnation of Jesus to fall as flat as a Sunday School felt board manger scene on our hearts. It becomes ordinary. It becomes...dare I say...boring to us. " We have heard it before."
If you find yourself in this camp this Christmas, may I challenge you to see the story anew. May we start with our posture and the understanding that every time we read scripture we are reading the living breathing Word of God? That every time we get to hear this and read this, we are among the privileged people who have access to the Bible, who have had access to education that we may read, have access to finances that we can own not just a bible but usually multiple variations!
As we read through Luke 1-2:40 again today let us pause and consider ourselves blessed. Just as Luke writes to Theophilus, how good it is for us too as Gentiles alike to be given the good news of Jesus Christ!
Luke addresses Theophilus is a very specific manner. "Excellent Theophilus." This title is typically given to Roman officials. We see the same term used by Paul in Acts 24:3 and 26:25 for Felix and Festus. Theophilus "represents a Gentile class being systematically taught the Christian message"(RSB pg1521).
Incredible. God's word and promises for all people, of every nation tribe and tongue. We get to be partakers of this.
A last thought this day...1 John 2 reminds us, "Do not love the world or the things of this world...For all that is in the world-the desires of the the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life-is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever." Christmas, especially in our modern Western context seems to literally emphasize and sell these three things. Suddenly we are super concerned with appearance, possession and material things. It is perfectly off focus of Christ and on focus to nothing of eternal value.
I am not saying Christmas and its traditions are inherently wrong, we love driving around looking at lights, watching Christmas movies and eating Christmas goodies, what I am suggesting- is that we each examine our hearts as we press forward. Are there areas that would be clustered into these 3 regions of warnings that we need to remove and repent of? Are there areas of idolatry or sin that we must steer clear of? And more so, are there areas that we can love Christ more, spend time in His Word more and exemplify him more?! The Gospel Coalition has put out some excellent articles lately that go more in depth into this if you are interested in diving more into this topic.
My prayer is that we are ready to 'systematically be taught the Christian message,' and rejoice in its truths yet again. After all, the grass withers and the flowers fade but the Word of the Lord remains forever. <3
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