Christmas Greetings 7

There’s one more word!

It’s not a Greeting per se though it was the first word out of the innumerable angelic mouths singing to the Shepherds on that first Christmas Eve.

Glory!

We are narcissistic. “Celebrity,”“stardom,” “glamour,” “beauty,” “heroics,” “fame,”
“prosperity,” … it seems as though everyone is looking for that moment in the lights … a camera click to notoriety … “GLORY!”

That’s Heaven’s Greeting! “In the highest, the Glory goes to God.” No wonder Jesus taught His followers to finish their prayers with the acknowledgement, “Yours – our Father, the one in the Heavens all around us … is … the Glory!”

Christ is “the anointed!” He’s God’s chosen! He’s “the One!” He is the Greatest! The one and only true HERO! As a Son who shares the Father’s nature, as well as His likeness, He deserves the Glory!

Proclaim it strong! Sing it long!

“All glory to you who alone are God.
You bring us into your presence
With love and joy
All power, authority, all splendor, and majesty,
Are yours from the beginning and evermore!”

Come! Let us ADORE HIM! … CHRIST THE LORD!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eLDvM7eSq0

Christmas Greetings 6

Grace to you!
Bless you!
Peace! Bro …
Joyous Birth of God!

All Greetings that express the sentiments of people experiencing those dramatic events surrounding the Birth of Christ.

There’s one more.

It’s a greeting not used in the conversations during that first Christmas. At least not in the Biographers’ telling of the story. But it is a greeting familiar to Jews. It can be used when meeting someone or when bidding them “farewell.” It’s packed with meaning.

It’s “Shalom.”

One word, it comprehends and expresses the “blessedness” found in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. It conveys concepts such as
“completeness,” “wholistic,” “health,” “prosperity,” “soundness,” “fulfillment,”
“harmony,” “tranquility,” “peace.” This single word embodies all the qualities our Father is recreating in us. Through Christ’s Spirit in us, He “redeems” “salvages” and “restores” us until the distinctives refined in Spirit-filled people – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and, self-control – gradually emerge revealing Christ’s character.

If we wish anything for people we encounter at Christmas, or anytime, it’s this “BLESSEDNESS,” “goodwill” the “goodness” our Father “wills” for us …

WHAT BETTER GREETING FOR CHRIST- FOLLOWERS WHO WANT ALL PEOPLE TO EXPERIENCE THE WELL-BEING CHRIST CAME TO GIVE US?

S H A L O M !

Christmas Greetings 5

Mary sang her praise to God. “My soul praises the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. “Joy” filled her!

“I have good news of great joy,” the Angel proclaimed.

Perhaps the French have the Greeting we’re looking for. “Joyeux Noel!”

“Joyous Birth of God!”

Christmas Greetings 4

Zechariah’s first words, after his speech was restored, were not, strictly, greetings. But they are most revealing. “Praise be to the Lord,” he said. He has “redeemed His people.” He’s brought His people “salvation.” By His “mercy” He has “rescued” “us” enabling us to serve Him “without fear.” By the “tender mercy of our God … the rising sun will come from heaven to shine on those living in darkness … to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

Did you notice his reference to the absence of fear? The terror that gripped him, when he saw Gabriel, has been displaced with “peace.”

We’ve been “redeemed.” Bought out of destitution by a Creator who, seeing our value, salvaged and restored us. Like a discriminating classic automobile collector He sees, buried in a metallic jungle of wreckage and rust, a barely perceptible treasure. He knows the price will be far greater than its appearance could ever justify. But He believes in its worth and pays the price. Years later, the restored Classic, unveiled, inspires breathless wonder in those who see in it the work of the finest of craftsmen.

By the “tender mercies of our God,” we are being restored. Peace is a distinguishing mark in us.

Maybe the old Hippies have it right.

“PEACE!” Bro. …

Christmas Greetings 3

Elizabeth’s actual greeting to Mary is even more revealing. “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear … Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has aid to her will be accomplished.”

“Blessed!” This is a word full of promise! Dallas Willard, in his book, The Divine Conspiracy, explains. It speaks of “the highest type of well-being possible for human beings. Its Greek root is the term used for the blissful existence of the gods.” This is what Elizabeth was predicting for Mary. But we know, for we’ve heard the rest of the story, that to be the Mother of Christ would bring many experiences that were far more troubling than the angelic visit. Still, ultimately, through it all she would see her Son transform a great tragedy into the developing triumphs of an ever-expanding, perpetually victorious Community of Spirit-filled people. “We are more than conquerors through Christ …” “In this world you will have hard times,” Jesus said. “But cheer up. I have overcome the world.” Trust Him on this and all fear is gone. By faith we know we are “blessed.”

Now that’s a Greeting worth considering!

“You are blessed!”

Christmas Greetings 2

The answer to my question may be right there, in the EPIC events of the first Christmas.

Listen to Zechariah’s Wife. Her Husband has just come through a mesmerizing experience. He’s now lost his ability to speak. But she’s pregnant. What Gabriel promised is happening. “The Lord has done this for me,” she exclaimed. “In these days He has shown His favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.” To be childless was disgraceful in Zechariah’s and Elizabeth’s day. Her pregnancy, an act of God, is for her, and “the people,” a demonstration of His favor. A terrifying incident has become a moment of beneficence. Fear has been lost in the realization that “the God of terrible aspect,” favors her.

Then there’s Mary. Gabriel visits her. “Greetings,” he says, “you are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” She is “greatly troubled!” Gabriel comforts her by saying, again, “you have found favor with God.” Her trouble would be displaced by the knowledge that God “favors” her.

God’s favor is the heart of His Grace. The “great company” of “angels,” who sang to the Shepherds on the night Christ was born declared, “peace to men – people – on whom His favor rests.” Mary and Elizabeth are not His only Favorites. This “good news,” the angel explained, “will be for all people.” With Christmas God’s Grace is confirmed to be universally available. With it comes “peace.”

Fear is displaced by Grace.

“Grace to you! You’re one of God’s Favorites!”

Isn’t that an appropriate “Greeting” given what we’ve learned about God’s intentions for us at Christ’s coming?

Christmas Greetings 1

We are now just days from Christmas! And the “chatter” goes on about who’s saying “Merry Christmas” and who isn’t.

Is there a better way of resolving this?

Jesus IS! The reason FOR! the Season!

Do we really “get” that?

I’m convinced that we don’t.

I also believe that when we grasp what Jesus’ coming is about our words – greetings … casual conversations … expressions of thoughts and feelings – will flow with new clarity and life shaping conviction. Our Christmas will be beyond “merry.”

Think about it!

This is what the Angel – Gabriel – said to Mary. “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." “Mary,” we’re then told, “was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.” “But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.”

Think about it!

Contemplate it!

Meditate on it!

This is EPIC!

COSMIC!

“Now,” I ask, “What sort of words and greetings broke from the lips of the people involved in this the greatest event in Creation’s History?"

Gabriel’s words were always the same. “Do not be afraid!” Zechariah, the soon-to-be Father of John the Baptist, Christ’s forerunner, was “paralyzed with fear,” when the Angel appeared. Gabriel’s words to him were, “Do not be afraid!” Mary was “thoroughly shaken.” “Do not be afraid,” Gabriel reassured her. The Shepherds, outside Bethlehem that first Christmas Eve, were “terrified” at the appearance of the Angel. “Do not be afraid,” he said.

At what point in Christianity’s celebration of the Birth of Christ was the fearsomeness lost? When, if at all, have you even thought to say to someone at Christmas, “Don’t be afraid,” unless, perhaps, someone with whom you share a bank account or credit card just went into spasms at the sight of your arms full of many, large packages?