Having trouble getting "into" Christmas?
Posted on December 9, 2010 by Pastor Tom
Sometimes it’s challenging to get into the Christmas spirit – (whatever that means). Does it mean excitement about the Christmas holidays? Does it mean joy in buying gifts, special gatherings and baking cookies? Whatever “the Christmas spirit” means, we likely have different attitudes towards it and our need to get into “it.” So maybe we could try a different approach.
Instead of getting into the Christmas spirit, how about focusing on the celebration of Advent? To celebrate this, we need to know Advent means coming and refers to the coming of God to us in baby Jesus. So how can we enter into this celebration. German Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffor has some great words to help.
“The celebration of Advent is possible only to those who are troubled in soul, who know themselves to be poor and imperfect, who look forward to something greater to come. For these, it is enough to wait in humble fear until the Holy One himself comes down to us, God in the child in the manger. God comes. The Lord Jesus comes. Christmas comes. Christians rejoice!”
Instead of trying to get into the Christmas spirit, I’m going admit my spiritual poverty and imperfection and then watch to see how God will come to me with His sufficiency and perfection. That’s something to look forward to and celebrate!
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