After Christmas, what?
After the anticipation of the holidays, it’s easy to feel uncomfortable or restless as we try to settle into a new routine. So, what’s a person to do after Christmas?
In Luke 2:21-40, we get a glimpse at some of the things Jesus was doing after the very first Christmas. Perhaps they can lend us counsel as we start off the new year.
First, He (His parents, really) obeyed God’s Word.
In verse 21, we read of the circumcision of Jesus, a sign of the covenant required of Hebrew boys from the time of Abraham. We know that Jesus was “born under the Law, that He might redeem those under the Law” (Gal. 4:4-6). This makes Him unique and sets His behavior apart.
What I see as relevant in this passage for all believers today is this: He and His earthly parents were obedient to God’s Word. You and I need to be obedient, too. Whatever we are already aware God has told us to do, we must do it. This is the test of faith and obedience for you and me. Will we be obedient in 2020 to what we know God has shared with us? Will we trust Him with what we do not yet understand?
Second, His identity was celebrated.
In the same verse, He is given the name “Jesus.” This name, announced to his parents by angels, means “deliverer,” for He came to “save His people from their sins.” (Matt. 1:21) This identity declared, became an identity lived out during His lifetime and beyond. And rightly so – Jesus understood who He was and filled his identity with the meaning and purpose intended by God.
True, we are not Jesus, but we also need to understand who we are and why we are here on this earth. You are a child of the King, a valued and precious member of His family. As such, you are infused with purpose and meaning; there is nothing haphazard or accidental about you. This is the test of identity and purpose. Do you know who God has created you to be? Are you living it out to the best of your understanding and ability?
Finally, He was dedicated to God the Father.
The appearance of Jesus at the Temple on the eighth day was an act of presentation, certainly out of obedience, but beyond that, out of commitment. His life and His future were dedicated to God and His will. In the instance of Jesus, counsel and prophecy was given by Simeon and Anna (vv. 22-40).
Although this counsel was unique in many ways, counsel is always advised as one launches out in the adventure of a new year or a new challenge of any type. The wisdom others share can sharpen and refine you; it can guide you and effectively warn you from dangers ahead.
Godly advice is needed in a complex and often confusing world, and we need to receive it with grace and gratitude. This is the test of wisdom and counsel. Who is speaking into your life at this time? Is it godly people who have your best interest at heart? Who is challenging you to be courageous and committed in 2020?
The time after Christmas – the beginning of the year – can be one of the best times of soul care and godly preparation in your life. Why not make the most of it now, so that you are eager and ready for all 2020 has to bring?
Dr. David Jackson serves as the director of church planting & strategy at the Baptist Convention of New England.