Holiday Survival Kit

Black Friday is over. Cyber Monday is upon us. One article caught my eye, promising you could survive Christmas if you do all your shopping online. “Survive” connotes a dim view of the holidays. Though I do not always succeed in following it myself, I know a recipe for Holiday happiness?—a Mary Christmas.

Though this analogy may be old, it never gets tired. While Jesus' visit to the home of Mary and Martha was not Christmas, it was as special as any holiday. And while Martha focused like a scud missile on dinner preparations, Mary made a beeline for the best spot in the house, at Jesus’ feet. While Martha was stewing in the disappointed expectations of a perfect meal, Mary was consuming the abundance of fruit that fell from Jesus’ lips. Martha busied herself with ‘every’ thing while Mary quieted herself with ‘one’ thing.

As we begin preparations for this year's Christmas festivities, let us not allow disappointment with secondary things—family, food, presents—to steal our joy from that which is primary. Jesus came to earth “that your joy may be full” (John 15:11). Don’t allow a “Martha” mentality to steal your “Mary Christmas.”

Are You as Close to God as You Want to Be?

People use “spatial” terminology when they speak of getting closer to God. But in fact, there is nothing you can do to get closer to God than you already are. God has loved you infinitely and become one with you in Christ. He indwells you. You can’t get closer than that. Given that, what does he mean when James says “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you?”

Since James’ statement is not “spatial,” it must be “dynamic.” The phrase “draw near” helps us understand. It means communion and fellowship with God in prayer. How do we “draw near” to Him?

This is how theologian Arthur Pink describes it: “by meditating, thinking upon, and contemplating His complex person, His glorious titles, His compassionate intercession, His precious promises, His Living Word, He may have a constant place, the supreme place, in our thoughts and in our affections.” Then Pink said something that really caught my attention: “The apostle prayed [Eph. 3:17-19] for the saints to have a spiritual enjoyment of Him so that He would be present and precious to the soul.”

Is there someone special in your life whose company you enjoy? You just like being near them, right? Do you enjoy Jesus like that? Do you love just being with Him? This is the ‘nearness’ we all desire. In the Song of Solomon, the Shulammite woman who represents the Bride of Christ, says: “I must seek him whom my soul loves… when I found him whom my soul loves, I held on to him and would not let him go…” (3:2, 4). And through the prophet Jeremiah, God says “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart” (19:13). It’s up to you: you really can be as close to God as you want to be!