A Celebration Meditation

I read the story about a pastor in California who came by his church the day after Christmas and noticed that the outside church nativity scene was missing the baby Jesus from the cast of figures. He thought about reporting it to the police, but before he could do so, he saw a child in his congregation pulling a red wagon with the figure of the baby infant Jesus in the wagon. The pastor walked up to little Joey and said, “Well, Joey, where did you get the little infant?” Joey replied, “I got him from the church.” The pastor asked, “Why did you take him?” With a smile on his face, little Joey said, “Well, about a week before Christmas I prayed to the little Lord Jesus. I promised him if he would bring me a red wagon for Christmas, I would give him a ride around the block in it.”

I suppose the child was simply expressing joy and gratitude for this Christmas gift. In that sense, the child provides us an illustration of celebration as an expression of appreciation. Perhaps we should all pause before we begin a new year to remember the good things God has brought to our lives this past year.

The psalmist calls upon such remembrance, “The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy” (Psalm 126:3).

This verse is similar to other grateful expressions in scripture. For example, Samuel declared it when Israel was given their first king, “Be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you” (1 Samuel 12:24). David expressed it when God assured him that of his kingdom there would be no end, “For your word’s sake, and according to your own heart, you have done all these great things” (2 Samuel 7:21). Mary sang of it when she was great with child—the Christ Child and coming King, “From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me” (Luke 1:48-49).

This spontaneous outburst of joy is found many times in scripture by God’s faithful and it is always in response to God’s goodness. It would seem perfectly natural and absolutely reasonable that such expressions of gratitude would be on the lips of God’s people. Why? Because—The LORD has done great things for us!

So let me encourage you to pause and consider some things for which you could give praise. Remember the good things—yes, even the great things God has done!

Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron