Hustle, Bustle Behavior
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9
It is December 14th and I am repeatedly being asked, “Are you ready for Christmas?” Though I usually answer, “I will be when it gets here,” what I really want to say is, “Yes… spiritually!”
From a worldly perspective I am not ready. I still have gifts to buy and though my tree is up, there isn’t a wreath on my front door or lights anywhere outside. I have not sent Christmas cards (and may not get to them this year) and I have only baked cookies necessary for one event! By the world’s standards I am way behind!
But, in my heart and mind I am more ready than many other years. It seems that God has been mightily at work in me redirecting my thinking toward Him and His work. I have had reason to think about His humbling act of leaving heaven where He was in full fellowship with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit and coming here to save sinners like me.
As I have made a real effort – at the Lord’s urging- to focus more on what He is doing and has done for me- I am more able to really worship Him and celebrate His birth. I am singing in church, sometimes with tears as we sing Christmas Carols. I am finding that I care way more about people than their gifts this year and I would have to admit that some years I have been more focused on getting things done than I have been on those I am doing them for. Not this year.
Now, I also must tell you that this has come out of several months of pain and being way too focused on me and not Him. In His grace the Lord has shown me that He is who I need to center my thinking on. Interestingly, as I have made a conscious effort to do that, He has led me to people who have built me up and strengthened me by pointing me to Him.
As we come nearer to our individual celebrations of the birth of Jesus – who came to save us from our sins (Matthew 1:21, “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”) – we will see more of the world’s temptations. There will be more parties and food, more drinking and uninhibited behaviors. There will be the temptation to spend more money than we have – maybe even to lie to our spouses about how much or we’ll just deceitfully hide the receipts.
Peter warns the Christians he sent his first letter to to be careful about how they act around unbelievers. In 1 Peter 2:11 He says this to them, “Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.”
The “day of visitation” is defined as a day God draws near either for judgment or mercy. Peter wants our good deeds to be so evident to others that they will glorify God and not receive His judgment. It’s hard to imagine that our behaviors can have that much influence but if we represent ourselves as Christians with our families and co-workers – then they need to see behavior that honors and glorifies God in every situation we find ourselves in. It seems to me this should be especially true of our celebrations of His birth.
As Christmas approaches and we are in more social situations how could we demonstrate our faith and our desire for others to know this One that came to save us from our sins? Are we demonstrating joy and contentment with what He has offered us or are we looking to be satisfied by the passions of the flesh that Peter has warned us about?
Jesus is the Light of the World. What do we need to do to make Him brighter in our hearts as we interact with that world over these next few days of hustle and bustle?