The First to Know - December 2009

Eli sighed as his eyelids grew heavy. It had been a long day of tending sheep. As a Hebrew shepherd boy, he spent much of his time with his father, brothers, uncles, and cousins, tending sheep. The sun had gone down long ago, and Eli was tired: tired of sheep, tired of darkness, tired of walking. Most of all, he was tired of being a shepherd. Shepherds in Israel had a hard way of life. Day by day they endured the dirty, stinky work of caring for sheep, and furthermore, shepherds were often looked down on by other members of society. Shepherds were not generally respected or even trusted. Eli thought of his friend Seth. Seth was the son of a priest – he had a great future ahead of him. Just the other day Seth was bragging to Eli how he would soon be going to learn from rabbis at a special school. Seth was going to be a priest. Seth was going to be revered in all the land. Eli, however, was going to be a shepherd, like his father, like his grandfather. Eli’s future was full of poverty, isolation, and many dirty sheep, not the respect and titles a life in the city would give him. For Eli, there was no way out.
Just as Eli’s eyes were about to close, a blazing light filled the entire sky. Blinded by the great light, Eli jumped and cried out in fear. Suddenly a voice boomed out from the heavens: ‘"Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger’” (Luke 2:10-12). As the angel finished saying this, a heavenly multitude filled the sky, praising God. “‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!’” (Luke 2:14). Eli gaped as he looked all around him. The whole sky was full of angels! There was no room for any more. Wow, Eli thought. If we shepherds out here are seeing this, I wonder what amazing things, people in the city are seeing? He had no time to think further, for, as suddenly as they had come, the angels disappeared.
Eli soon found himself hurrying along with the other shepherds among the twisting roads of Bethlehem. He was surprised at the stillness. Hadn’t these people heard angels too? It didn’t take the band of shepherds long to find the stable – it was just as the angel had said. In worshipful silence, they tiptoed in one by one. They told Mary, the baby’s mother, what the angels had told them. “Angels?” she asked. “Angels announced His birth to you?” “Yes,” Eli answered excitedly. “Didn’t they come to the city, too?” “No,” she said. Then she smiled. “God wanted you to be the first to know.” In awed wonder, Eli slowly approached the manger. There He was – the Messiah, the Son of God, the King of Kings, come to earth as a baby. And he – Eli, shepherd boy, son of Aaron, shepherd, son of Benjamin, shepherd – yes, he, Eli, was one of the first to know.
Suddenly Eli’s brother Micah broke the stillness. “Come on!” he told the other shepherds. “Let’s wake up the whole city and tell them this great news!” Micah and a few others started running through the streets, shouting what they had seen and heard. Eli followed close behind, still marveling of all he’d seen. Then he noticed Seth, standing quizzically outside his home. Eli forgot his envy of Seth and ran to him, shouting “Seth! The Messiah has come!” He hurriedly told Seth all that had happened.
Soon it was time to return to the fields and tend the flocks. Eli the shepherd boy hurried to get back to work. He didn’t mind being a shepherd anymore. Sure the work was dirty, tiring, smelly, and looked down on, but that didn’t matter anymore. God had sent His Son to earth, and God cared for Eli the shepherd boy. With a new joy in his heart, Eli returned to work.

The Very Bad Day - December 2009

One Saturday morning Leah woke up late. “I already missed my TV show,” she moaned to herself. This wasn’t her favorite way to start a Saturday. Later, as she poured some juice for herself, she accidentally spilled it all over her brand new shirt. Leah’s day was not looking good. As Leah was mopping up her mess, her friend Stephanie called. “We decided to cancel the Christmas caroling party tonight,” she told Leah. “What?! But I was looking forward to it,” Leah moaned. “I was, too,” Stephanie commiserated. “But Pastor James said the weather could be bad tonight. It won’t be a good night for caroling.” Disappointed, Leah said goodbye and hung up.
Later that evening, Leah went across the street to deliver hot cocoa and cookies to Mrs. Gibson. Mrs. Gibson’s husband had died two years before, and Leah visited her often. Tonight as she walked in to Mrs. Gibson’s, Mrs. Gibson said, “Hi, Leah! Come in! Isn’t it a beautiful day?” Still disappointed by her day, Leah answered, “How can you call it beautiful? It’s icy and dark and…wet,” she finished as she took off her wet coat. “All days are beautiful, whether the turn out like we want them to or not,” Mrs. Gibson smiled. “I don’t understand,” Leah said. “I always remember that no matter what is going wrong with my day, I still have the promise of eternal life because of Jesus’ Christmas gift to us. Because Jesus paid my ransom and brought me to faith in Him, I know that I have an eternal reward waiting for me in Heaven. Nothing can change that – not even the worst day ever,” she added with a smile.
Leah was thoughtful as she returned home. If Mrs. Gibson could still be joyful when her husband was gone and she lived alone, then maybe Leah could find joy in God’s love for her even when her day wasn’t going as planned. Leah sighed. I still wish I could go caroling tonight, she thought. Then Leah had an idea.
About thirty minutes later, Mrs. Gibson’s doorbell rang. When she opened the door, there stood Leah and her family. “Merry Christmas!” Leah said. “Do you mind if we sing some Christmas carols?” “Not at all,” Mrs. Gibson smiled. “I’d enjoy that.” With a smiling face and a joy-filled heart, Leah joined her family in singing “Joy to the world, the Lord is come…”

Rejoice! - December 2009

While many hymnwriters were revered and respected in their lifetime, not every hymnwriter was praised for their work. For example, one Christmas hymn came to us through two exiled priests shunned by the Christian community of their day. Even though the church leaders back then refused to recognize this particular hymn, churches today love it.
In 1295, Heinrich Suso was born into German nobility and was raised in a luxurious, extravagant home. Although used to being spoiled, he chose to become a Dominican monk and live a life of service. However, Suso’s ideas often conflicted with those of the established church of the day. In 1329, Suso wrote The Little Book of Wisdom, where he discussed explaining the gospel to the poor German countrymen. This was progressive thinking in his day, and it angered many in the church. Some even accused Suso of heresy! Undaunted, Suso published The Little Book of Eternal Wisdom just one year later. Written in simple terms for the common people, The Little Book of Eternal Wisdom delighted its intended audience but enraged the educated church members. In 1329, the pope - the adored leader of the church Suso loved - condemned him. Soon after, the German king exiled Suso. Rejected, he traveled to Switzerland, where he preached - of all things - the happiness to be found in Christianity. Would you be happy if you were exiled and condemned by those of the church you loved and served? Suso’s preaching drew curious skeptics. Is it possible to be slandered and yet also blessed? One night Suso had a dream that he was in heaven, where the angels were singing and dancing. When he awoke, Suso remembered the dream so vividly that he was able to write down the words of the song sung by the angels. The song was Good Christian Men, Rejoice. When Suso’s native Germany received the song, the common people welcomed it from the man who had cared enough to write for them before. The church leaders, however, were another story. Heinrich Suso died in Switzerland, still disliked by the church he longed to serve.
Roughly five hundred years later, James Mason Neale, a priest of the Church of England, seemed to be following in Suso’s footsteps. He, too, thought that everyone should know of the great love of God and hear the good news of the gospel. These were radical views compared to the church leaders of his day. Angered by his non-conformism, church leaders exiled Neale to a pastorate in a foreign land. No one seemed to agree with Neale; on one occasion he was even stoned and beaten by a mob for his beliefs. In yet another radical move, Neale started a women’s order to do social work among orphans, the poor, and others. Most leaders did not appreciate his radical, unconventional methods. Despite the many people he helped, Neale found others angry enough to threaten him. When Neale found Suso’s Good Christian Men Rejoice, he loved the exuberant view of the joy of salvation. Fascinated by its joyous appeal, Neale translated the song into English.
Good Christian Men, Rejoice was brought to us by two men who had no worldly reason to rejoice. They were ridiculed by those whom they respected and longed to please. Sent away from home, they were far from everything they had known. Yet, despite their earthly troubles and trials, Suso and Neale strove to glorify God and spread the gospel. Adding to the men’s disappointments, the church leaders of their times only criticized their goals and scoffed at their methods. Yet both men saw a reason for joy, which we can find in the words of the song itself: “Good Christian men, rejoice, with heart and soul and voice; Now ye need not fear the grave: Peace! Peace! Jesus Christ was born to save!”

Merry Christmas! - December 2009

Merry Christmas! I love the sights and sounds of this season. Familiar Christmas music is heard everywhere you go. Christmas is a festive time, when you are likely to wish a “Merry Christmas” even to complete strangers. Christmas is often proclaimed as a joyous season; a time for parties and good food, visits to family and visits from friends.
When we think of joy, we often think of happiness or having fun. But joy is so much more than just happiness! Happiness comes and goes; it comes when we are satisfied or enjoying ourselves, but it leaves when we have chores to do or things don’t go our way. Joy, on the other hand, doesn’t depend on how we feel but on our relationship with God. If we have accepted Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, God has given us a relationship with Him, the free gift of salvation, the promise of His power in our lives here on earth, and a reward in Heaven. Those things never change; so our joy doesn’t change either!
When we celebrate Christmas, we celebrate Jesus’ birth here on earth. This was when God came to give all of mankind an opportunity to enter into a right relationship with Him. Without that relationship with God, we have no reason to be joyful. Christmas is when we celebrate the reason we have joy: God inviting man into a relationship with Him.
Because nothing can ever take away God and His Word away from us, we still have joy no matter what else is going on in our lives. Like Leah and Eli learned, it doesn’t matter if we’re having the worst day ever, or if our future here on earth looks dreary, because no matter what, God’s love for us remains and His promises are sure. When little things bother us or cause us to be “unhappy”, we can remember the bigger picture and still have the joy of the Lord. Nothing will ever change God’s love for us.
What a wonderful promise we can now have - no matter what we have or don’t have here on earth, our loving Savior will always have a home for us in Heaven. Our hope is sure, which gives room for joy. Our sins are gone - what a reason to rejoice! The Almighty God in heaven saw fit to enter into a relationship with those He created. For a Christian, joy doesn’t rest in our circumstances, because those change. Our joy rests on our right relationship with God, which never changes. Next time someone wishes you a Merry Christmas, remember why this is a season of joy: “Jesus Christ was born today” and He has washed our sins away. Our joy rests on the sure foundation of Christ’s sacrifice for us, and the freedom to love God and serve Him.