How to Assemble a “Merry Christmas”

(Luke 2:8-20)  And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. {9} And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. {10} And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. {11} For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. {12} And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. {13} And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, {14} Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. {15} And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. {16} And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. {17} And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. {18} And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. {19} But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. {20} And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.  

There are certain Christmas’ that stick out vividly in my mind because of where I was or by what I received.  I remember one Christmas where all I wanted was this tool set that had a roller chest and toolbox. Well Christmas rolls around and under the tree is only one gift from my parents to me. It is small. I mean small. It was about 1” tall 2” wide and about 6” long. Wrapped rather nicely and had a very strange rattling sound to it. I couldn’t even guess what was in it. Now I am one to pick up a present and tell you if it is a shirt or a sweater, what size, and what color. This year I was stumped. My Dad makes me wait until last and then he hands me it and there is a utility knife key chain and a letter in the box from Santa Claus. The letter went on in a rhyme to tell me how bad I had been all year and this was all I was going to get for Christmas, until my Dad had lobbied Santa for me. He had convinced  Santa to leave me one more small gift in for me in my Dad’s closet. You know the letter and the key chain and the whole setup about my present was better than the gift itself. What I treasure most about that Christmas, is all time and thought that my dad put into planning the “joke” that assembled a Merry Christmas for me.  The Christmas season comes upon us so quick. So much to do and so little time. I know some Christmas’ feel as though there is no merry in a merry Christmas. So I have some instructions (Perfect more instructions at Christmas!) this season on how we all can have a Merry Christmas!  

Instruction Number 1

A Merry Christmas begins with the Baby Jesus, not with gifts.

(Luke 2:15-16)  And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away the Lord hath made known unto us. {16} And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.  A Merry Christmas begins with a baby in a manger. Not at the mall or at a party. (Luke 2:11)  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.                                              

Instruction Number 2          

Get someone else to help you celebrate.            

(Luke 2:17)  And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.  

No time of the year is riper for the picking for soul winning than Christmas. The whole reason for the season is (I had to put that in there somewhere) found in the birth of Christ.  As we said in the first instruction. The shepherds increased their joy by spreading the good news of Jesus’ birth. Keeping Christmas to ourselves will rob us of the greatest opportunity we have to discover true joy and truly have a Merry Christmas. Share the reason for the season with everyone you know. 

Instruction Number 3

Take time to think it through.           

(Luke 2:18)  And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.  

The commercialism of Christmas is not in the fact that we buy gifts or decorate. The commercialism of Christmas is that the true meaning gets lost in the hustle and bustle of adding to the season things that distract us. The message was plain by those shepherds that night and it stuck wonder in the hearts of those that heard their tale. Note:  Taking time and reading the story of the first Christmas and listening to the Word of God can assure one of a “Mary” Christmas.   

Instruction Number 3

Don’t throw anything away!            

(Luke 2:19)  But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.  

Have you ever put anything together and compared it with the picture on the box? They might look similar, but if you didn’t follow the instructions you will notice differences. If you try to skip steps, the parts left over will expose your shortcuts.  First, we understand “kept” to mean that she (Mary) remembered the events of that night and the things connected to the birth of the Savior.  She meditated on those things. Every detail that surrounds Christmas is important and must not be forgotten. If it is lost then our Merry Christmas is just a poor copy of the original.  

Instruction Number 5

Don’t stop until the job is done.                        

(Luke 2:20)  And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.                        

A Merry Christmas just doesn’t happen in December. It continues the whole year through for a Christian. The shepherds returned to their job and their responsibilities with a different attitude. They worked the rest of their shift somewhat differently. They may have gone back to the same boring job but they were not the same men. The joy of the first Christmas had changed them.  Have you allowed Christmas to make a positive difference in your life? Do you return to work or school after the holidays, praising God for the gift of his Son and rejoicing in a merry Christmas? Or do you go back to work / school to relax?            

The five steps to assemble a Merry Christmas are clear but they are not always easy.  It takes some effort to put together a Merry Christmas.  It took some effort on the part of the shepherds and Mary.  If you have had trouble assembling a Merry Christmas in the past, why not stop and read the instructions this year – Luke 2:8-20. By the way I got the tool set for Christmas that year!