BIRTHDAYS... Sunday

Devotional for 12/01/13

Today is my birthday!  We celebrate birthdays various ways in our culture. There are special birthday cards, birthday cake, sometimes a party, a special meal, and perhaps gifts.  Different people have different expectations for their birthday celebrations.  Even in the Bible we find several times when feasts are held to honor a special person's birthday.  When we are young, we often enjoy those special days.  Sometimes as we age, we prefer if people would just forget that we have added another number to our years on earth!  But overall, birthdays are generally considered special days in our lives to celebrate.

But there is a more important birthday for us, as Christians.  It is our spiritual birthday, the birth of our faith in God.  Many of us consider that to be the day that we were baptized with the Holy Spirit, God's gift to us that creates faith in our hearts.  It is the day that we are born again in the Spirit.  That faith may begin as a small glimmer of hope within us.  As we feed that flame, listening to God's word, it gradually grows.  Sometimes that fire is fanned into huge flames through our experiences.  Difficult times and trials can strengthen our faith as we learn to lean on God more and more and trust in his unfailing love.  There also may be times when we feel as though our faith falters, or we begin to question if God really exists.  But God is always faithful and will not snuff out even the smoldering wick of faith.  (A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. Isaiah 42:3)  Instead, the Holy Spirit continues to work in our lives as long as we do not completely reject him. Our faith is what sustains us throughout our lives and allows us to see the kingdom of God.  Our spiritual re-birthday becomes way more important to our lives than our belly button birthday, even if we forget to celebrate it with as much fanfare.

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again."  “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”  Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.  Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” John 3:3-6 (NIV)

We are entering the preparation phase of Advent in the church year for celebrating a most important birthday - that of Jesus of Nazareth.  At the time some realized the importance of this most miraculous birth.  There was celebrating in the skies by the angels and in the fields by the shepherds. Others were totally oblivious or even unprepared, as was the innkeeper who had no room for them at the inn.  

May we remember during this time of the year to prepare our hearts and minds for this most precious birthday, and not get too caught up in the preparations of the house decorations, the gift buying, the visiting and parties, etc.  The stress of what we have made this season into has it's toll.  Often times there are those who even dread this time of year, possibly because of bad memories of Christmases in their past, or because of sadness at not having other people around or celebrations to attend.  Actually, they are blessed with a great opportunity to focus on what really matters and not get distracted by the flurry of activities others experience.  We can all benefit from this time of Advent, preparing with reverent awe of what God has done for us in sending his Son to earth.

written by Jan Andersen

Here is a song for Advent as the people were waiting throughout the ages and the four hundred years before His glorious birth, the Promised Messiah.

O Come, O Come Emanuel by Selah