Christmas readiness

It’s the third of December. Here in the New River Valley of Virginia, we’ve already been teased by snow flurries in these first days of the Christmas season. Our family made the trek to the Christmas tree farm on Saturday after Thanksgiving. The house is decorated. Alexa Dots chirp Christmas music from cherished playlists.

While your house may be “ready” for Christmas, its inhabitants may not be. That’s not because there’s still shopping to be done or meals to be cooked. It’s not because the Christmas cards haven’t been mailed. Christmas readiness doesn't come from checking off the last box on the Christmas to-do list.

We are a do-ing people. The problem with the spirit of Christmas is that we can’t do anything to find it. Christmas comes when we least expect it. It is sourced in the plan and heart of God Himself. We can’t bring the Christmas spirit into our homes through careful planning and elaborate trees.

Christmas readiness is a response of the heart to the activity of God around us.

Consider the preparation for the first Christmas:

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.”¹

Those shepherds were going about their daily routine. They were watchful, but not for Christmas. That first Christmas interrupted their lives.

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”²

Here’s what happened in sequence:

1. An angel appeared.

2. God’s glory illuminated the darkness.

3. Terror followed.

4. An announcement of unbelievably wonderful import was made.

5. An angelic choir performed what had been practiced for ages.

Were the shepherds ready? Not at all. But what they did next ushered wonder and helped them experience Christmas readiness. It’s a model for us as well.

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them… The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.³

Here’s how they moved from unreadiness to readiness:

1. They confirmed the message of the angels by finding Jesus.

2. They told others.

3. They went back to their lives filled with praise.

First, they focused on locating Jesus. That’s the most important step in experiencing Christmas readiness. You can mail the cards, decorate the tree, cook the meals and wear the ugly sweaters and still miss Christmas. You won’t be ready until you locate Jesus in your Christmas. He must be central. Jesus is worth leaving the holiday routine for. Step away from the “fields” and marvel that “a Savior has been born.” Receive this message as the gift that it is.

You’re only ready for Christmas when you are forgiven for your sins. That’s what Jesus came to do. The angel told Joseph –

[Mary] will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”⁴

Dwell on the real gift of Christmas - salvation and forgiveness from sin through faith in Jesus.

Then do what the shepherds did -

1. Tell others.

2. Go back to your life with a heart of gratitude, wonder and praise.

When you spread the word and live in wonder, you’ll be ready for Christmas - even when the house may not be.

1. Luke 2:8

2. Luke 2:9-14

3. Luke 2:15-18, 20

4. Matthew 1:21