PASTOR JACK'S THOUGHTS 12/2/09
ATTITUDES OF CHRISTMAS (WEEK ONE)
We have just completed a time of Thanksgiving. My thoughts for last month urged you to prepare your hearts with thankfulness as we enter into the special Christmas season. Now we enter into the celebration of the wondrous birth of our Savior, Jesus the Christ! For the next three weeks, let us meditate daily on the 'Attitudes of Christmas' and how our own attitude is crucial to the way we look at and celebrate Christmas.
It is fitting that we look first at the attitudes of Mary and Joseph. They were engaged but not yet married when they both, separately, received the news that they would have a Son! Mary's first reaction was to ask the angel, "How can that be?" After the angel explained that the child was going to be God's Son, Mary's trusting attitude was simply, "Whatever God says, I accept!" What a wonderful attitude. She did not ask that God's will in this situation be altered or changed in any way. She knew that there would be misunderstanding and judgment from people in her village after the news that she would have a baby was known, yet she held firm to an attitude of submission to God's will, trust in God and acceptance of what He said!! In Luke 1:46-55, we see her submissive and trusting attitude explode into song as she sang, "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior...!"
Then there was Joseph!! The scripture says that Joseph "was a righteous man." His first reaction to the news of Mary's pregnancy was that "he did not want to expose Mary publicly and decided to divorce her quietly." Then after the angel appeared to him in a dream and explained God's plan, Joseph quickly took Mary in marriage but did not have relations with her until after the holy child was born. (Matthew 1: 18-25) He also obeyed God's instructions through the angel and named the child, Jesus. His attitude matched Mary's attitude as he trusted God's word to him and obeyed immediately. The following verses indicate that God directed Joseph in the care of His Holy Child and that Joseph always obeyed. He, too, had an attitude of "Whatever God says, I accept!"
This week, examine your attitude about God and His will. Is your own attitude one of trust and submission to God's will? Can you say with Mary and Joseph, "Whatever God says, I accept?"
May our theme for this month be the words of Mary, "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!! Don't let the busyness of the season drown out the richness of His presence during this special time of celebration!!
With Joy and Thanksgiving,
Pastor Jack
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