Jesus, what do you want for your birthday?
I have shown you in my word what I would really like;
Act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God.
Mic. 6:8
Q:Any thing else?
J: Well, one thing I don’t want is some meaningless and costly symbolic “gift” that only appeases someone’s guilty conscience. I would be really happy if you gave me your broken spirit; your broken and contrite heart. That’s a good place to start. I won’t turn that gift away.
Psa. 51:16-17
Q:How about something more tangible?
J: Well, you could feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, clothe the naked or visit the sick or imprisoned. When you do these things, you do them for me, you do them to me.
Matt. 25:31-46
Q: Should we give gifts and have parties in your honor?
J: Sure, but when you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind…
Luke 14:12-13
J: Here’s a couple of parables to think about:
Luke 12:16 through Luke 12:21 (NIV)
Luke 16:14 through Luke 16:31 (NIV)
Q: Wow. So what do you think about the way most of us celebrate your birthday? I mean, you do like our pageants and special worship services, don’t you?
J: Do you really want me to answer that? I don’t want to seem ungrateful.
Q: Yes. You are the Reason for the Season, you know.
J: Well, OK. Here’s what I think:
What do all these “gifts” mean to me? Do I need choirs and pageants and songs and lit up trees? Heck, I made stars for crying out loud and I’ve got more singing angels than Brazil has butterflies! I haven’t asked for all of that. It’s all noisy and dirty to me. I wish people would stop having these meaningless parties and gatherings in my name. Some of this is downright evil. It is a burden that I am really tired of bearing. I hate it when people come before me lifting their hands in prayer and all I can see is the blood of the oppressed and poor dripping from their fingers. If people would just admit their guilt openly so I could help them. They could stop doing wrong and learn what pleases me. I would help them seek justice for the oppressed, and defend the cause of the fatherless and the widow.
Isa. 1:10 through Isa. 1:17 (NIV)
I really hate and despise all the hoopla around Christmas (Christ, that’s me, right? And mas, that’s being born, right…my birthday. fun.) In fact, I can’t stand most assemblies. There’s no way that I will accept these kinds of offerings or even give them a nod. Take your noisy songs away! Stop with the piano, organ and guitar!Please, just let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream.
Amos 5:21 through Amos 5:24 (NIV)
Q: Man, Jesus…I had no idea you felt that way. Where’d we go wrong? I mean, this is your people we’re talking about here…
J: “My people” are those who do the will of my Father. Matt 12:46-50
There is a whole culture built around my Name and worshipping me, but…
21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’Matt. 7:21 through Matt. 7:23 (NIV)
Q: Well. What can we do? I mean, I want to get you something for your birthday that you really want, something that will make you happy. What can I do?
J: You’ve already got a good start toward pleasing me. I appreciate you asking me. That’s a gift in itself. 15Because I want you to be very careful how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what I really want.
As far as celebrations, I’ve already given you some hints, so…..18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with my Spirit. 19Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to me, 20always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in my name.
Eph. 5:15 through Eph. 5:20 (NIV)
Q: I think I’m getting the picture from what you have shared with me. I am beginning to formulate a plan here. Would you mind looking at it to see if I’m getting you something good.
J: No, I’ve said enough. Just Surprise me.
Q: Well, Jesus, thanks for the interview.
J: My pleasure
Author’s note: The passages from Isaiah and Amos are pretty strong. By reading the Bible we know that God is a partying God. There are all the feasts and celebrations of Israel and then, of course, Jubilee! God is happy and rejoiceful. He is wrathful, jealous and vengeful as well. These latter attributes are reserved for those persons or forces which destroy his intended will and steal away His goodness and truth. (Romans 1:18-21) God’s fed-upness with Israel’s celebrations is not because He doesn’t like people to get rowdy and happy with friends, family, wine and song. But they had turned their backs on God and quit their desire and drive to find God’s purpose for creation, for individuals and for their nation. (Isa. 1:2-4) It is human nature to fall into this behavior. However, the Bible calls us to fight against these symptoms.
I think we can make the season more than a “Transaction Day” for ourselves and even have a meaningful Christmas season if we do two things:
1. Continue to make our first priority in life to be this: Understanding God’s purpose for making creation and why He has put us in it.
2. Celebrate Jesus’ birthday the same way we celebrate our own; Think about what he wants and develop a party concept centered on him, the “birthday boy”
The Bible has the gift list. (several references mentioned above) God is pleased when people give to those in real need to mark his Birthday. We could be very creative with the party aspect as well. After hearing the same “dreamy” Christmas songs and seeing the same pageants for so many years, don’t you sometimes feel a little like God does in Isaiah 1:11-14? I’m not suggesting that anyone be against what is traditional about Christmas, but if we keep the birthday person in mind like we do for our own birthdays, change will occur. It might just get down right crazy!
Something to think about this year.
Fred
http://www.worldvision.org/content.nsf/pages/sponsor-a-child?open&campaign=1193512&cmp=KNC-1193512
https://secure1.heifer.org/gift-catalog/heifer.html/?msource=kw2743&gclid=CJKbtJyy_KwCFQcQNAodKm-rvg
http://www.mensliveschanged.org/
http://www.victoryministriescolumbus.org/