Christmas Eve

 

And there were shepherds residing in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night.  Just then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid!...

Amazingly what a difference a day can make.  Many Christmases ago as it is commonly believed in the Christian faith,  A king was to be born.  Right now, all would have been quiet.  The shepherds tending their sheep at night not expecting any immediate changes to take place like you grabbing your TV remote to watch another show before dropping in your seat.  It was a quiet evening at the end of a shift.  The shepherds looking after the sheep.  Suddenly, the night brighten and  awaken by the declaration of an angel about the king being born in a manger in Bethlehem with an accurate description of how they were to find the baby with his mother.  Furthermore, a host of angels would join that one in praise and glorifying God in the highest.

Moreover, what a spectacle that must have been! Angels mingling with dirty shepherds ready to end a shift.  The ones marveling at what this could all mean and the others proclaiming God's glory.  What a contrast worthy of the season.  Yet Jesus Christ came also in a dirty, self satisfied world which was restless and is still as such today.  Still wondering, what good comes from Nazareth!  Unfathomable mystery! Is it possible to find rags in the midst of glory?  Our righteousness as good as filthy rags could never meet the expectation of God's glory.  But only through Christ!  Why would the world expect a king to come by way of a manger?  Unheard of such wisdom!  Through which window have all the other kings come in history?  Indeed, be ready for God's wisdom to show up at anytime and cancel your plans. Are you calling on him yet or trying to ignore him?  The arrogant will never learn in their current state of mind, but the camel will, as it kneels through the eye of a needle.  Does ‘Christmas’ your way really works?  Accordingly, speaking of Christmas many years ago at a camp I served turkey dinners  buffet-style (turkey is what we eat at Christmas here in North America). I was looking for options for some  variety. What if?  What if I gave the additional option of cooking a different turkey, cooked in barbecue sauce?  Well, since the cooking was happening at a ranch here in Canada , it was a hit.  They wanted me to cook it the same way again every Christmas.  Altogether, I cooked 16 turkeys one year for all the groups.  I don't like turkey that much anymore now.  My point is though, a lot of you cooking turkey the traditional way will never cook it the barbecue way because of tradition and taste.  Christmas is a surprise to the world.  A world kept in traditional ways, being robbed from the greatest gift of life....Unless something sudden happens...