What to Keep

A few years back we had a crisis at Abbeville Methodist.  We were setting up for Christmas, with the usual anxiety and chaos.  There are always things that are hard to find.  But we were missing one major thing.  Our long-time baby Jesus was nowhere to be found.  We looked and looked.  Finally, someone found him in one of the upstairs rooms, and all was well.

But I wonder.  As we take down all of the Christmas trappings ... trees, wreaths, candles, nativity scenes ... do we ever throw out the most important thing?  Do we throw baby Jesus out, while carefully storing away the things we use to "dress up" the church?

The Scriptures tell a story about Jesus as a boy.  The story in Luke 2:41-52 tells a Biblical "Home Alone" story in which Jesus is left behind at the Temple.  Our family is particularly connected to this story because we (in Mobile) once left Christopher (my son) at church (I'll unpack that story on Sunday).  Stuff like that happens, and the story from Luke makes me feel less like a bad parent.  But this story reminds us that we must all be attentive to remember the most important thing ... Jesus.

We are entering a new year.  We will take down the Christmas decorations (eventually).  We will put the Cantata books in the file till we bring them out another year.  We will find a new section of hymns in the hymnal, appropriate to either Epiphany, Lent, or Easter.  The Christian year will move on.  But let's remember the baby Jesus that wrapped humanity around Himself, so He could bring us to God's Kingdom, both on earth and in heaven.  If the New Year is about, for, and with Jesus, the year will be good for the Kingdom and glorifying to God.  Don't throw out the baby!  AMEN