New.
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What was new right after the arrival of the baby?
This stretch of days for our family is filled with celebrating and remembering a lot of birth. Trent's birthday is December 16th. Nine days later we celebrate the birth of Jesus on the 25th. Then nine more days later (today), we celebrate the birth of Trey, 18 years old today! In this particular stretch of thanksgiving for these birthed into our lives, we have also remembered what it was like right after our first baby, Taylor, arrived. Our life changed. When you live your life for several decades primarily in the habit loops of what you like and dislike, what you do and don't do, ways you live and don't live and then you get married, your selfishness comes into crisper view. The same is true as a new baby arrives in your family. Selfishness is being rivaled as you lose sleep, lose schedule, lose control. You lose your life as you know it. The very fabric of your life changes and it's wonderful. And it's costly. You change after the baby arrives.
In these lingering Christmas days of celebrating the arrival of the Christ child, I have been prompted to look into the Words of God and discover and rediscover what was new right after the arrival of the Christ child. What was immediately new for those that we see recounted in these pages of the birth narratives. It has been stirring for me.
What was new right after there arrival of the baby?
*Bible book of Luke, chapter 2, verses 16 to 20.
The shepherds were telling stories about Jesus. They encountered angels and then the angels left and then they encountered the Christ child and then they left and after they left they told the story of what they had seen.
Those receiving the shepherds stories were amazed and filled with wonder. People are living their normal, everyday lives and they encounter shepherds telling the story of the arrival of a most amazing baby and somehow, without seeing the baby themselves and simply receiving the words of these sheep tenders, they are amazed at what they hear. Mary, the mother of the Christ child is treasuring these moments and pondering them in her heart. Amidst the blood and labor and mystery and arrival of Jesus she is not hardened from chaos. She is tender in heart and is deeply considering this gift and treasure in her young life. The shepherds return to their fields and they are worshipping God glorifying and praising Him in some new or renewed way having encountered a baby King.
*Bible book of Matthew, chapter 2, verses 1, 2, 12 and 13.
Magi, or wise men as they are called, have seen a significant star in the east and they are asking and seeking. "Where is this one who has been born King?" "We have come to worship Him." They come seeking, asking how to find Him so they can worship Him. Joseph, Mary's husband, is visited by an angel in a dream and warned that the ruler of the land, Herod, wants to kill the baby. And so Joseph's immediate new is to protect his son from the threat of death from an enemy. And don't miss that human king's immediate new passion after the arrival of the Christ child. Herod wants to murder Jesus. No baby king will dethrone him. He seeks to kill Jesus Christ as a baby and exalt himself as king.
*Bible book of John, chapter 1, verses 14 and 15.
This is not necessarily a traditional Christmas narrative, but it is words of the arrival of Christ nonetheless. "The Word became flesh (that's Jesus)....and made His dwelling among us. Merry Christmas! John the baptist who was born before Jesus and was a forerunner going ahead of Him to prepare the way and make announcement that Jesus was on His way has specific words now that Jesus has arrived. "He who comes after me has surpassed me....". What is John doing now that Jesus has arrived? Don't miss these words. He is crying out about the greatness of Jesus.
What was the new right after the arrival of the Christ child?
Inspired story telling.
Living in amazement.
Holy treasuring and pondering.
Profuse worshipping.
Asking and seeking for the King.
Protecting the gift from an attacking enemy.
Desperately seeking to kill the new King.
Crying out about the greatness of the King.
And what of you and me? Is anything new in you as a result of the birth of Christ? Is it worth considering?
Is He worthy of .....
your words,
your amazement,
your treasuring,
your worship,
your questions,
your seeking,
your movement to guard relationship with Him,
your confession of ways you oppose Him,
your crying out about how great He is?
New birth. Something in you?
There's more.