A Strange Time of Year!

I did a little research this morning and learned that over 160 nations around the world celebrate Christmas, while only a few over 30 countries do not.  And I had to admit… that I had to grin… just a little… when I gathered that information.

As I have perused the mainstream media over the past year, I have come to realize that Christianity has been portrayed more and more often as public enemy #1… especially in the minds of those who favor the WOKE culture that seems to be gaining unparalleled influence in today’s world.  We’ve been called a great number of negative names, falsely accused of being ignorant of and insensitive to the changing attitudes in society and then cancelled… while they place us into nice little boxes because we don’t agree with them and their ever-changing, morally deficient principles. 

And why?  Well… we believe in a loving God and in the truth and infallibility of His Word and… to be blunt… THEY DON’T!

So yeah… I couldn’t contain a grin and a chuckle as the vast majority of the world will temporarily pause from their worldly pursuits today and… whether they understand it or not… celebrate the birth of the Son of God, Who came into the world to suffer the judgment of all our sins (including theirs) so that each of us could have a pathway to everlasting life.

As I was reading from Luke 5:26 earlier today, I found myself taken-in by the reactions of the people in the house listening to Jesus preach when four men tore apart the roof and lowered a man on a bed through the ceiling, right in front of Jesus.  The main thing that caught my attention was that although it didn’t seem to faze Jesus, it sure stirred up some strong feelings within the others in the room.

Jesus just sort of stood there and watched what was going on.  When He observed the faith in the one’s involved, He forgave the sick man his sins and then healed him.  Following that, the healed man and his four companions simply grabbed the bed, walked out of the house and returned to their own homes while they glorified God! 

What was particularly interesting to me, was the way Dr. Luke (the writer of the epistle) recorded the response of the Pharisees and doctors of the law who were in attendance by notating, “And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, ‘We have seen STRANGE things today.’” (KJV) 

With most of our collective focuses set on the Christmas Season, I couldn’t help… after reading this scripture… but to reflect on all the STRANGE THINGS that occurred before, during and after the original event of Christ’s birth over 2000 years ago.  The unfolding of all of these unique, one-of-a-kind events were so STRANGE that every time the angel Gabriel came to tell it to the different characters in the story, his first words were always preceded by and/or included the command “Don’t be afraid!”

Whether it was Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, or the young teenage Mary, or her espoused husband Joseph or even the lowly shepherds watching over their flocks by night, the messenger angel of the Lord prepared the way by letting them know that YES… it was a STRANGE event, but NO… it was nothing to be afraid of, for Gabriel also reassured Mary saying that, “no word from God shall be void of power.” (Revised Standard Version) A literal translation of that verse could state that “The Word of God will never fail!” (footnote in TPT)

My Holiday thoughts on these points would lean to the idea that God wanted us to know, that the entrance of His influence on this earth… in the form and personality and power of Jesus Christ… would hail a change in the “status quo” of the world and be a direct challenge and/or alternative to their rapidly deteriorating ways.

I firmly believe that God was clearly telling each of us, that through the ages to come, that our new norm would be to EXPECT STRANGE THINGS.  Those things that would be seen as very STRANGE to the world’s way of doing things.  To EXPECT that the STRANGENESS of the Gospel message, coming through the powerful Word of God, spoken from our lips, would be the bright light that causes the darkness that once prevailed… to be extinguished… one person at a time!

So, what’s my Christmas message? 

It’s simple… EXPECT to be STRANGE!  EXPECT the STRANGE Gospel message (to the world’s way of thinking) to move mountains (Mark 11:22-24), “to supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19 EMTV), to heal the sick (I Peter 2:24) and be the answer for just about ANY need you may have or any situation that you may face in life. (Mark 10:27)

So why not just learn to ENJOY it!  Enjoy being STRANGE!

Have a wonderful and STRANGELY beautiful celebration of Christmas and an exciting, and STRANGELY EXPECTANT New Years!