This Christmas is Just Like the 1st Christmas

Earlier today in our staff devotions I shared that often times we can get overwhelmed with activities and busyness of the Christmas season which seems to grow more complex each year.   And there can be a train of thought that says,  "boy we have sure strayed from the way things were during that first Christmas when Jesus was born."  However, if we were take a look at the Christmas story as laid out in the Gospels we would see that the first Christmas is a lot like the ones we experience annually.

Take for example the account given in Luke 2:1-7 (NIV)
1. In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2. This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3. And everyone went to his own town to register. 4.So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7. and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Let us take a look at the scenario during this first Christmas

• People were frantically trying to get to their respective home towns because a census was being taken.
• Streets were crowded due to increased travel.
• Lodging was completely booked.
• Individuals were dealing with the stress that life can bring (in the case of Joseph and Mary birthing a child.

So my concluding thought was that Christmas is always going to busy, there is simply no avoiding it --  we have gifts to buy; parties and gatherings to attend; dealing with other people's level of stress; etc. etc. etc.

The key I shared is how we choose to respond to it.  And I  left them with only one word of advice, that they do not squeeze out the one most important meeting of their day which is to meet with Him because if anyone knows how busy the Christmas season is -- it is Him. 

Let us make sure there is room in our inns for Jesus this Christmas so it is actually not like the first one.

Comments

[Rod Kaya]

Thanks Todd -- I wish you were there in person to hear it.

[Todd Tolson]

great post...nice green/red text!