If you’re at all like me, you are entering the Christmas Panic Period (or at least that’s what I call it). The hustle of Christmas time has just got real. You’ve realized Christmas is 16 days away and panic is setting it. If you didn’t realize Christmas was only 16 days away until you read that sentence, I’m sorry. But welcome to the panic with me. You probably still have about 362 presents to buy, dinner to prepare and decorations in boxes in the garage (which, let’s be honest, are definitely not going up this year).
Panic. Anxiety. Stress.
These are not things Christmas is suppose to be about, but they are definitely realities of what Christmas has become. This advent season, I’m so happy we are going through old hymns and reflecting on the person of Christ. Remembering what He did by coming as a baby to save us. When I stop focusing on the stresses of the Christmas season, I find peace in who Jesus is.
One of my new favorite hymns is “When Came in Flesh the Incarnate Word.” The title says it all. It’s the evolving story of Jesus who came to earth to save us. The opening stanza is my favorite:
When came in flesh the incarnate Word,
The heedless world slept on,
And only simple shepherds heard
That God has sent His Son.
I do not really like to admit it, but often I fall into the “heedless world” category. I move through my day and my list of to-dos oblivious to the things God is doing, in the small and big, around me. I try to figure it all out on my own, when I was never meant to live that way. You were never meant to live that way, either.
We are called, instead, to be like the simple shepherds. They were ready to be used by God. They did not have big titles, fancy things. They had their sheep and were available. That’s all God is asking of us.
When we are available for Him to use, He will.
We can’t walk through life with blinders on. We need to live with eyes wide open, ready for God to use us.
This Christmas Panic Period I am certain is not just me. And most of the people who are panicking in America during this season do not know the saving grace of Jesus. They are heedless, which just means they are oblivious. They have yet to be told. What if you are the person who is suppose to tell them?
The heart of Jesus, the very reason we celebrate His birth, was to seek and save. In Luke 15 we find three stories of how much Jesus loves lost things and how desperate He is to find them. Maybe the person who needs saving is the single mom behind you at Target praying her card gets accepted for the few things she can provide her family this year. Maybe it’s your brother that you’ve been praying for years will finally come to find Jesus as Lord.
Be like the shepherds. Listen for God’s guiding and go tell the heedless world of His goodness, grace and forgiveness. This is the season of miracles.
When Came in Flesh The Incarnate Word
Words by: Joseph Anstice
When came in flesh the incarnate Word,
The heedless world slept on,
And only simple shepherds heard
That God had sent His Son.
When comes the Savior at the last,
From east to west shall shine
The awful pomp, and earth aghast
Shall tremble at the sign.
Then shall the pure of heart be blest;
As mild He comes to them,
As when upon the virgin’s breast
He lay at Bethlehem.
As mild to meek eyed love and faith,
Only more strong to save;
Strengthened by having bowed to death,
By having burst the grave.
Lord, who could dare see Thee descend
In state, unless he knew
Thou art the sorrowing sinner’s Friend,
The gracious and the true?
Dwell in our hearts, O Savior blest;
So shall Thine advent’s dawn
’Twixt us and Thee, our bosom Guest,
Be but the veil withdrawn.
Credit: Photo by Sarah Simon // Instagram: @themintgardener
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