Simple to You and Simple to Me
Matthew 2:1-2; 9b-11 (NLT)
Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have to worship him”
“…And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
We simply love Christmas at our house! My man and I met at a Christmas pageant of 500 church volunteers and performers. He was John the Baptist, standing on a 30 foot mountain built out of scaffolding, covered in brown burlap in the church sanctuary. I was simply a woman dressed in a period Biblical costume. I loved him from the first time I saw him standing atop of the mountain, dressed in animal skin calling everyone in the sanctuary ” a brood of vipers”! We had our first date on December 20th -MANY years ago! On that date he took me to look at Christmas lights. After we were married at our first church we began to have a Christmas Open House! First, for our church, where for two days people would come by our house and eat, fellowship and take a gander at where the preacher and his wife lived. Then on a third day we invited our neighborhood to come and celebrate the Christmas season. We would close the evening with my Preacher opening up the Word of God and reading the Christmas story. Every year we added new Christmas decorations. Every year we bought a few more plastic tubs to store them. A Church-wide Christmas open house lasted for three days. The neighborhood open house completed the celebration. This was a big part of our celebrating for 22 years! During that time period people would bring us gifts as they came to celebrate in our home and over the years the theme around those gifts was the manger scene. I have had plates with the manger scene on them, manger scenes from Alaska which have the holy family as eskimos. I have a very dear manger scene from Africa – hand made by the people of a certain tribe. I have a hand carved manger scene from a dear man in our last church. I have “Walmart brand” manger scenes and Dollar store manger scenes. I have manger scenes from around the globe, hand carved and one of a kind. You get the picture…….Then after 14 years of marriage and open houses galore – we had a our second birth daughter on December 12, 1997. She cancelled the christmas open house and weighed in at 3 lb. 12 oz. Finally, the valuable thing we salvaged from our flooded home were the plastic tubs and many of our Christmas decorations.
Sometimes when you see a theme revolving around a word like “Simplicity” you automatically think that it means the same thing for everyone! Come on – You know you do – but the purpose of these devotionals is to help you and I to realize that something that is simple for me is not necessarily going to be simple for you. There is differing types of personalities, giftings and talents. Each of us is placed in the body of Christ to fulfill a So while I love putting out each of the manger scenes, putting up lights, garland, and trees – this may seem quite lacking in simplicity to you. The beauty of being a daughter of the Most High God is that He made us individuals. We are not cookie cutter humans made – to worship, to pray, to serve, to celebrate, the exact same way. He gives us freedom to express ourselves in our worship to bring our gifts to Him and for Him. The point that I am making is many will read a book or devotion – the latest worship trend, church trend or theme will present itself – it catches on – it’s used in a mighty way in the body and for the glory of the Kingdom. The struggle comes that all of a sudden we all begin to try to think and act in the same way – hoping to experience or create the exact result of what has already happened.
Look at the Magi. Did they bring the very same gift to the baby? Three different gifts were brought to our Savior. Gold, frankincense, and myrrh. While the magi were not kings, they were probably a combination of wise men and priests from Persia(albeit pagan). They brought gifts to the Savior of this world and were filled with exceedingly great joy while they did. Pagan kings. Isn’t just like the creator of this universe to use first shepherds (common men) and then pagans in the world to announce His son being born? Isn’t just like our Abba Daddy God to reveal His truth to men who would simply recognize the birth for what it was! These magi brought gold, as highly valued today as in that time. The precious spices and perfume of myrrh and frankincense were given as well. All three of these gifts were brought to the Lord and were often used to offer adoration for royalty. Three different gifts. One of great value – gold. One used for embalming, a household spice – myrrh and frankincense a perfume of great value – a fragrant aroma. I am not trying to make the scripture read more than it reads just offering the point that we all have different gifts and strengths to bring. We don’t have to look like everyone else’s simplicity of celebrating the Christmas season – just look to our own lives, our own gifts and personalties and WORSHIP the ONE – who came for the salvation of this world!
How do you worship the ONE of the season?
I really enjoy the decorating, the baking, making homemade gifts, hosting parties, caroling, the list goes on and on. I LOVE everything about this time of year, but I also have the type of personality that easily makes “fun” into “work.” I take on too much and what started out as enjoyable becomes a burden. Still trying to find that balance…wonder if I ever will?
I know what you mean erinheather. I too have that personality but remember this – the One who created you knows this about you. He will help you find balance. Ask HIM to give you balance. I know you already know this and do this – just a reminder. In recent years I ask some questions, “Is this really necessary for ________ at this moment or is this just something I think needs to be done?” “Will this make the _______better or is this simply a matter of personal taste?””Does this _________ need to take place or am I creating more activity?” “Am I stepping in where God wants someone else to be?” ok – that’s enough of that…..Love your heart erinheather! Can’t wait to meet you face to face one day!