16 December 2016
The Christmas Song
Luke 1:46,47,49
Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me.
This is the first recorded Christmas song ever. It should be the model for all Christmas Songs - He has done great things for me!
It seems easier and more common to focus on the great things we have done for ourselves. Especially at Christmastime, we are impressed when we’ve shopped ahead of time, found a sale, or saved up for the traditional holiday gift giving. Or, maybe we focus on the great things we have not done for ourselves like NOT shopping ahead of time, finding good deals or saving up enough money. Either way, these things should not be what we talk about or think about at Christmas. Mary didn’t. She focused on what God had done and was doing and would do for her not what she did or didn’t do for herself.
Do extra bills come up in your household mysteriously at Christmastime? Trying to have extra money to do extra things is often accompanied by a broken appliance or car in our house. It can be very frustrating and self condemning to think, “Oh, man, if we just had been more careful with our money this wouldn’t be a big deal...” I think God uses these opportunities to make sure I continue to rely on him daily and momently (not a word). But, Jesus instructed us to be ready spiritually not financially in all things. The illustration of the Bridegroom’s return for the ladies with oil in their lamps is about living obediently because we do not know the hour of Christ’s return (Matthew 25). Jesus also taught us to seek the things of God first every single day, and then watch how HE will then provide everything we need (Matthew 6). I don’t put my hope in money anymore because money has let me down. It’s never there when I need it.
And what about the people who are sage investors and have money to cover incidentals at the holidays? I’ve noticed they’ll have other reasons to trust in God like crazy. What if their body fails them? All the money in the world can’t sustain one’s health, but God can sustain us in times of illness even terminal ones. What if a loved one skips out on them? Sure, they have enough money at Christmas, but they have no one to buy a gift for!
I don’t think we should toot our own horns or feel like failures – especially at Christmastime. Christmas is the time to sings songs about what God does. Actually, that should be our default focus all year. But Christmas is when God did the greatest thing for us every by sending his Son into the world to take the punishment for all of our sins and to love us no other.
So, whether I’m cooking a turkey, buying gifts, or paying the repair man this week, I want this to be my focus and MY song... The Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me! BECAUSE HE HAS!
Dear God,
You are great and greatly to be praised and I desire for praising and thanking you to be my focus. I love you and thank you for always providing for me and giving us what we need regardless of my ability to save up enough or not. I love you so much and thank you for never neglecting me or making me feel like I should’ve done better. You know I need you and you do not withhold yourself from me. I cannot thank you enough and I love you and thank you in Jesus’ name, amen.
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