Christmas is coming.
The vestiges of November remain, and yet lights are beginning to festoon houses, trees can be glimpsed through windows and the retailers drums are banging as they count down the shopping days for us.
Christmas is coming.
It seems that a Covid Christmas makes itself known earlier than others. Frantically scouring the restricted landscape of imminent winter months, Christmas provides a welcome distraction and focus. And so people are prepping, buying and anticipating already. November is ushered out early, and December heralded as the month that holds that happy day.
Christmas is coming.
As Christians, our growing anticipation is anchored in joy-bringing, light-giving realities. God with us. The moment when God came into our world, dwelt with us and ultimately died for us so that we might have the right to become children of God. The moment when Jesus holds out an invitation to his heavenly home – available to all those who turn towards the light, away from the darkness and receive him as God’s king. And, amazingly, the world races towards a celebration of that moment, of Christ’s birth. Decorations are up, presents are wrapped and the party is carefully prepared.
Christmas is coming.
But the majority of Christmas Day party participants don’t really know what they’re celebrating. The Saviour’s birth has been overshadowed. The story has been pushed into the background, although familiar echoes nudge in and out of the family-filled, commercially-drenched day. While some may go to a church service, many will not. Some might remind their kids about Jesus, but many won’t…maybe because they don’t really know what to say, or why he is relevant to the here and now.
Christmas is coming.
And we have a huge opportunity to speak light and life and truth into an empty celebration. It’s at this moment, during the month of December, that truths of the bible are most familiar to our nation. While there’s a dearth of understanding as to why Christmas is a big deal, the language and narratives are already in place. Donkeys, shepherds, wise men and even Jesus himself are a part of the conversation. The door is more open than at any other time of year to share Christ with those who don’t yet know him.
Christmas coming.
So let’s make the most of the opportunities. We’ll need to be more creative than usual, given our Covid circumstances, but I wonder if it means that people are even more receptive to us reaching out, showing them love, pointing them to the light amidst the darkness of a pandemic.
Let’s pray. Remember the glorious truth of Christmas and do all we can to hold it out to others. And thank the Lord that there are numerous resources to help us!
The simple Christmas card: grab packs that clearly point to Jesus. Write to anyone and everyone, from your neighbours to your family to the postman to the teachers at school. Write a personal note, and as you show that you’ve seen them, and care for them, you may well win a hearing for the gospel. Just in case you do, put a tract or a booklet that explains the good news in along with the card.
Everyone loves carols: no doubt it will be harder to get people along to a carol service this year, but how about taking it to them? There’s a brilliant CD (https://www.10ofthose.com/uk/products/christmas) out of a carol service specifically with that purpose in mind. Maybe your church is doing something online, or maybe your small group could gather in groups of six (tier allowing) and do some distanced singing. Why not take a Jesus-pointing book and a treat for every house you visit?
Children love Christmas: and there’s nothing easier than giving books to children, which ultimately will be read to them by parents. We love to give goody bags to the young families on our street – a kids’ book, maybe a craft and something yummy – always well received. Could you do the same for children you encounter? How about your mums and tots group at church? The local school? Your child’s class? This year, more than ever, I’m sure there will be families wandering around their local neighbourhoods and so could we do something with posters or lights in our windows to point to our wonderful Saviour?
Sharing life: there are so many resources, and wonderful initiatives for reaching the lost at Christmas time, but in many ways, the most powerful witness is the one of us living a light-filled life alongside our friends, family and colleagues. Walking alongside them, praying for opportunities to share the reason for the hope we have and our gracious God often gives us the words and, by his Spirit, opens eyes and hearts to Jesus. Even if it’s via zoom, on a doorstep or shivering by the fence in the back garden, let’s be seeking to get together with people and invite them into our lives.
Christmas is coming.
Let’s make the most of every opportunity to share the everlasting, life-giving hope we have in Jesus this year. Restricted circumstances can make it seem harder, but those same circumstances have upturned lives and caused re-evaluations like never before. Maybe, just maybe, there are some cracks and chinks amidst this ‘new normal’ that are ready and waiting for the gospel to enter in, and for our powerful God to transform lives.
Here are a few more links for wonderful Christmas resources and ideas:
Felicity currently lives near Chicago, USA with her husband, Jonathan, and two young sons (Rufus and Billy). They are there with 10ofThose.com, seeking to get good, biblical resources out to as many people as possible. When not occupied with entertaining small boys and enthusing about books, she loves to teach the bible, both on a 1-1 basis and on a bigger scale at her church women’s bible study. She also writes a blog which is a means of sharing life and the gospel with friends and family. She loves to get outside and delight in a game of tennis and also enjoys a well-written novel.
