“a Stable”—”bigger than our whole world”
“So also we, while we were children,
were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world.
But when the fullness of the time came,
God sent forth His Son,
born of a woman,
born under the Law,
so that He might redeem those who were under the Law,
that we might receive the adoption as sons.
Because you are sons,
God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts,
crying, “Abba! Father!”
Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son;
and if a son,
then an heir through God.”
(The Letter of Paul to the Galatians 4: 3-7 NASB)
Yesterday, on Christmas morning, I found myself reading about Christmastide, the twelve days AFTER Christmas. So many in our world live for Christmas Day, and then find themselves depressed to step into December 26th because today is the ‘back-to-work’ day, a day to ‘return to the grindstone’ & even a day to ‘return those unwanted gifts.’
People will stand in long lines returning those gifts received, the gifts ‘unwanted’ that were wrapped so beautifully BEFORE yesterday as Christmas was celebrated everywhere.
- Gifts Unwanted.
- Gifts Returned.
- Gifts Freely Given but not Freely Wanted.
With the word ‘RETURN’ planted firmly in our hearts, let us pause on this Second Day of Christmas, the First Day of Christmastide, as we await the coming of the Magi on January 6. Also, may we allow ourselves time to focus upon the “gift of God” given through the babe born in “a Stable.”
The words spoken by author C.S. Lewis cause us to stop in our hurry back, in our “return to the routine,” in our “racing back to the normal” to see exactly what it is God has done for all humanity.
“In our world too, a Stable once had something in it that was bigger than our whole world.”
—C. S. Lewis
Christians across the world continue to wait in anticipation for the ‘return’ of Christ.
Jesus is coming again!
We are reminded today & every day, how we are to live expectant, live on purpose, live on-mission & to be ready.
We realize today, this day, could be THE DAY JESUS RETURNS!
We arise from our slumber, expectant, hopeful, maybe (in all honesty) even fearful that we have not witnessed enough. We know so many who remain ‘unready’ for the “return,” & walk ‘unready’ for the Second Coming of Christ Jesus.
The apostle Paul encouraged those believers living in Galatia to remember, to not forget, to live in such a way that they do not focus upon “the elemental things of the world” because just as that day came “when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son,” another day is coming too!
The world asks WHY do Christians live in anticipation of this coming day of return?
Faithfully, Paul reminds us why—
“so that He might redeem those who were under the Law,
that we might receive the adoption as sons.
Because you are sons,
God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts,
crying, “Abba! Father!”
(The Letter of Paul to the Galatians 4: 5-6 NASB)
During the season of Advent, we await Christmas day.
Now, on this Second Christmas, during these twelve days of Christmastide, we await the coming of the Magi.
May all who have received the gift of God’s Amazing Grace, await in unexpectant urgency, the second coming of Jesus.
Yes, let us walk on-mission, seeing the world with the eyes of Jesus & living focused, dedicated to the Father’s will.
The reality of “a Stable”—truly remains “bigger than our whole world.”
It is a truth the world may deny all the way to the grave, but denial does not make the reality un-truth.
TRUTH IS TRUTH!
So, even after we celebrate Christmas, the birth of Christ, we return to school, to the office, to the daily routine, but we do not return un-changed. Once we have come to the mountaintop and seen the glory of the Lord, we can never remain un-changed because we are now ‘different’ from who we once were.
“Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son;
(The Letter of Paul to the Galatians 4: 7 NASB)
and if a son,
then an heir through God.”