December 25
Mark Booker, Senior Minister
“Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth! Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!” Psalm 96.1-3.
The exuberance and exaltation of the psalmist, arising from God’s salvation, is the reason this psalm has been featured on Christmas day throughout the history of the church. My encouragement, as we have now transitioned into the twelve-day season of Christmastide, is that we don’t let Christmas pass too quickly. Let’s not put the celebrations or decorations away tomorrow. God becoming human flesh is an astounding, world-changing, life-altering event. God came near, not to judge but to save. God entered in, not to condemn but to liberate. God came low, that we might be lifted up high. “Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!” Let’s intentionally bask in the light of God’s amazing gift for (at least!) twelve days. Feast. Celebrate. Be creative with this. For the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Praise be to God!
Celebration is always appropriate for the Christian. In the words of Chrysostom, the 4th century Church Father, “The whole of time is a festival unto Christians, because of the excellency of the good things which have been given…The Son of God was made man for thee; He freed thee from death; and called thee to a kingdom. Thou therefore who hast obtained and art still obtaining such things, how can it be less than thy duty to ‘keep the feast’ all thy life? Let no one then be downcast about poverty, and disease, and craft of enemies. For it is a festival, even the whole of our time.” If the Christian life is a festival for the whole of our time, then it is a festival for these next twelve days for sure. Let’s celebrate!
Merry Christmas!