Christmas Hope. Story by Senior Pastor Ron Harris and Photography by Colleen O'Hare.

Christmas Hope

Story by Senior Pastor Ron Harris
Photography by Colleen O'Hare.

Growing up, Christmas was always a very special time in our home. Mom and dad had no trouble getting us children up on Christmas morning. I'm sure, before they went to bed they prayed, "Oh God, let them sleep." We could not sleep because of our expectations for the next day. In fact, I believe that our actions are often influenced and controlled by our expectations.

I once read how someone talked about cooking her first turkey for Thanksgiving. She said she was not a very good cook, and after several years of marriage, she decided to try a Thanksgiving turkey on her own. She sat her husband and son down before the meal and said, "This may not come out exactly the way you want it. If it's not a good turkey, don't say a thing. Without any comment, just stand up from the table, and we'll go to the nearest restaurant and eat." A few moments later, she walked into the dining room with the turkey. But her husband and son were already sitting there with their coats and hats on! Our expectations definitely control our actions.

When I was about 12 years old, I remember how my dad had purchased a special Christmas gift for my mom and he could not wait for Christmas morning to present it to her. Now, you must understand, my dad was not the very romantic type. He wasn't very good at picking out gifts for mom. But this time, he thought he had really selected something special. Christmas morning came and the large box brought a big smile to my mother's face. Her expectations were soaring. (So were mine, but in another direction. I knew what was in the box.) I'm sure mom thought this was a personal gift that she had hinted to dad she really wanted. But was dad listening? I guess not. And I wasn't about to tell him! She was all smiles until she opened the box, and discovered it was a complete set of pots and pans. As her facial expression began to change rather dramatically to one of her famous "clear the area" kind of expressions, dad remarked, "I knew this was something you could really use." I thought mom was going to throw those things at him one at a time! (Fortunately she didn't. But my family... well, that's another story!) Expectations can certainly influence our actions.

In Matthew chapter two, we read the story of the Wise Men following the star to the Christ-child. I've read the story many times and something about this story keeps getting my attention. It's something that speaks to us in a very real way today. The Wise Men expected to find a king, for the Bible explains in Matthew 2:2, "Where is he that is born King of the Jews? We have saw his star in the east and are come to worship him." The Wise Men expected a palace, they discovered a house. They expected some kind of royal celebration, they learned of a humble birth in a manger. They probably felt everyone would know about such a royal birth but instead, they had to ask Herod for information. They followed a star and they found a stable. Not exactly what they expected.

How do you react when you follow a star and find a stable? Isn't it true that every one of us has had times in our lives when we followed a star, things looked so promising, only to discover that things didn't work out like we had hoped or expected? I think it is helpful to observe what the Wise Men did when they found Jesus.

They did three things. They saw, they worshiped, and they went back in a new direction.

1. They saw. What did they see? Matthew 2:11, "On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother..." When they saw Jesus their heart was so touched that Matthew records they "bowed down and worshiped him." This must have been an awesome moment, an incredible picture of what happens when men meet God. When our spiritual eyes are opened we see things differently. When we get our eyes off our self and our circumstances and we see a loving, caring, all-powerful God, our lives can literally be transformed.

2. They worshiped. They presented their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. They brought their very best to God. If life has not been exactly what you expected and disappointments and set backs have drained you of your hope, I challenge you to look to God in the middle of your hurt and disillusionment and worship him. How? Thank him for sending Jesus into the world to die on the cross for you. Thank him for forgiveness of sin and the gift of eternal life. Go and participate in the worship and life of the church on a regular basis. Reach out to someone else who is hurting or facing disappointment. God promised in James 4:8, "Draw near to me and I will draw near to you."

3. They went back in a new direction. Matthew 2:12, "And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route." The Christmas season is an excellent time for new beginnings. Life may not always deliver what we had expected, but because of Jesus, and with faith in God, we can face anything life throws at us with hope. Sometimes it may require an adjustment in our thinking, a new start, or going in a new direction. Quite often, what we view as a closed door is God's way of opening a better door. Stop letting the past dictate your present and go into the New Year with new hope and faith. I love the Scripture in Ephesians 3:20-21, "...He (God), is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we are able to ask or even think according to His power that is at work within us." That my friend, is the direction of hope! Christmas hope. Hope for every day.

You know, hope has been defined as the fuel that the heart runs on, the oxygen for the soul. The one person who can give you hope when all hope seems to be gone is Jesus. It has been said that many people are not afraid of dying, they are afraid of having never lived. Everyone wants a sense of purpose and meaning for their life and that can be realized in a right relationship with God.

A car accident can paralyze a body, but the death of hope paralyzes the spirit. Hope is what makes a young man and woman stand before a minister and promise "I do" even though they have no guarantees. It is hope that fuels that same couple after years of marriage and broken promises and broken hearts to renew their vows and try again. Hope is why we keep bringing children into the world. Hope is why we have teachers and counselors, hospitals, and churches. Hope is why the Orioles keep going to spring training.

You may be walking through a difficult period in your life right now. You've been following that star and things looked so good. Then one day you find yourself asking things like, "Is this it?" "Is this what my life is supposed to be?" Remember what the Wise Men did. They saw, they worshiped, and they went in a new direction. Wise Men still seek Him. And wise men still discover the wonder and awe inspiring hope that only God can bring.

Ron Harris is the Senior Pastor at New Hope Church in Waldorf.

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