Anticipation is half the fun and sometimes more than half. Whether it is a vacation, graduation, a new job, marriage, a birth, retirement or simply another Christmas, the waiting, the anticipation is often such a positive warm part of the actual experience. Of course the actual event brings (we hope) the actual joy itself. But there is always an "and then" as well.
I wonder how great was the anticipation of Joseph and Mary? Angelic messengers had been sent to both of them. They knew the child forming in Mary's womb was to be unlike any other baby. This One was to be the Messiah; the One expected by all of Israel for centuries. Finally Jesus was born and with his birth, shepherds came telling of an angelic choir exclaiming over the joyous birth.
Perhaps life was ideal in the months that followed. Perhaps Joseph found a good job in Bethlehem and the little family settled in with relatives there. We are given no details. After many months the Magi arrived bringing expensive gifts and recognition that their son is indeed "born King of Israel".
But then came the angel's warning and instructions to leave for Egypt.
Not much joy in this announcement. Frightening actually. Powerful, vicious Herod wanted to kill their son. And so they packed up meagre belongings and left for Egypt under cover of darkness. Being parents of the Messiah was not going to be easy apparently.
We all experience something of this, don't we? So often after the anticipation comes the reality that life is still difficult. Even if the vacation is ideal, it does not last. Even if the new job, marriage, baby, whatever, is wonderful, life still offers many challenges. No matter what has been added to our life; no matter where or with whom we have entered this new life chapter - after the initial joy we find we ourselves are much the same person and life still offers both good and bad.
Joseph and Mary had to live by faith, trusting in God while in Nazareth, while journeying to Bethlehem, then living there; journeying to Egypt, then living there; returning eventually back to Nazareth. Each move providing its own share of blessing and difficulty.
And so it is for each of us now that Christmas, 2012 is over and the New Year of 2013 is about to dawn. I hope you experienced real Christmas joy wherever and with whomever you celebrated. I hope you anticipate good things in the year ahead. But we need to remember that lasting joy is found only in our God. Yes, we should keep anticipating and enjoying what eventually comes after the waiting. But we actually can really live only in the present. And in the present we always have our God "who was and is and is to come" - eternally present One.
So my wish for you today and every day of 2013: choose to obey the simple command of Philippians 4:4.
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!'
I wonder how great was the anticipation of Joseph and Mary? Angelic messengers had been sent to both of them. They knew the child forming in Mary's womb was to be unlike any other baby. This One was to be the Messiah; the One expected by all of Israel for centuries. Finally Jesus was born and with his birth, shepherds came telling of an angelic choir exclaiming over the joyous birth.
Perhaps life was ideal in the months that followed. Perhaps Joseph found a good job in Bethlehem and the little family settled in with relatives there. We are given no details. After many months the Magi arrived bringing expensive gifts and recognition that their son is indeed "born King of Israel".
But then came the angel's warning and instructions to leave for Egypt.
Not much joy in this announcement. Frightening actually. Powerful, vicious Herod wanted to kill their son. And so they packed up meagre belongings and left for Egypt under cover of darkness. Being parents of the Messiah was not going to be easy apparently.
We all experience something of this, don't we? So often after the anticipation comes the reality that life is still difficult. Even if the vacation is ideal, it does not last. Even if the new job, marriage, baby, whatever, is wonderful, life still offers many challenges. No matter what has been added to our life; no matter where or with whom we have entered this new life chapter - after the initial joy we find we ourselves are much the same person and life still offers both good and bad.
Joseph and Mary had to live by faith, trusting in God while in Nazareth, while journeying to Bethlehem, then living there; journeying to Egypt, then living there; returning eventually back to Nazareth. Each move providing its own share of blessing and difficulty.
And so it is for each of us now that Christmas, 2012 is over and the New Year of 2013 is about to dawn. I hope you experienced real Christmas joy wherever and with whomever you celebrated. I hope you anticipate good things in the year ahead. But we need to remember that lasting joy is found only in our God. Yes, we should keep anticipating and enjoying what eventually comes after the waiting. But we actually can really live only in the present. And in the present we always have our God "who was and is and is to come" - eternally present One.
So my wish for you today and every day of 2013: choose to obey the simple command of Philippians 4:4.
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!'
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